The North Sydney Bears and Sydney Roosters both claimed strong wins over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on the weekend in both the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup respectively.
Despite travelling away, both sides managed to get the two competition points against their close rivals in a highlight for the weekend.
The Central Coast Roosters will kick-off their season in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership (Open Competition) on Sunday May 1 against the Wests Tigers at Morry Breen Oval.
First Half Dominance Propels Bears to Victory
Despite not scoring a try after half-time, the North Sydney Bears held off a fast-finishing South Sydney Rabbitohs side at Accor Stadium on Friday night, claiming a 24-16 win.
NSW Cup Round 3 Highlights: Bears vs Rabbitohs
New Roosters recruit Renouf Atoni laid the platform with a try in the thirteenth minute, and while the Rabbitohs hit back soon after, winger Tom Carr bagged a double with five-eighth Ronald Volkman joining him on the scoreboard for a 24-6 half-time lead.
The second half turned into an arm wrestle with Souths scoring twice, but the Bears held strong as they maintained their eight-point lead in the final half hour, with Adam Keighran perfect with the boot.
Match: Rabbitohs v Bears
Round 3 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
9th Position
away Team
Bears
5th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
The North Sydney Bears will travel to Lidcombe Oval to take on fellow foundation club the Western Suburbs Magpies on Sunday afternoon.
North Sydney Bears 24 (Tom Carr 2, Renouf Atoni, Ronald Volkman tries; Adam Keighran 4 goals) def South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
Jersey Flegg Roosters Rout Rabbitohs at Redfern
The Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg side have come away with a dominant 42-18 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Overcoming an early deficit, the Roosters hit back with Vuate Karawalevu and Siua Wong scoring in the first half, with both sides finding themselves down a man at various points, heading to the sheds at 12-all.
Match: Rabbitohs v Roosters
Round 3 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
12th Position
away Team
Roosters
1st Position
Venue: Ironmark High Performance Centre, Sydney
But the Tricolours came out in the second period a determined side, scoring three times in an eight-minute period which included doubles to fullback Ethan King.
Wong found himself on the scoreboard again with ten minutes to go, before bench hooker Alan Holten scored in the dying minutes to seal the 42-18 win, with five-eighth Hugo Savala racking up a personal tally of 14 points with seven goals.
The Sydney Roosters will take on the Wests Tigers on Sunday night at the Wests Tigers Centre of Excellence in Concord.
Sydney Roosters 42 (Siua Wong 2, Ethan King 2, Vuate Karawalevu, Jacob Preston, Alan Holten tries; Hugo Savala 7 goals) def South Sydney Rabbitohs 18