A second-half surge has propelled the Sydney Roosters into a stellar 40-16 win over the North Queensland Cowboys in the final game of the regular season at Netstrata Jubilee Oval on Saturday night.
Tarryn Aiken and Isabelle Kelly controlled proceedings, both executing a number of brilliant plays that resulted in points to secure the Tricolours their first Semi Final at Allianz Stadium.
Match: Roosters v Cowboys
Round 9 -
home Team
Roosters
2nd Position
away Team
Cowboys
9th Position
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Following a period of gritty defence, the Roosters looked to turn their first real opportunity with the ball into points as Tarryn Aiken delivered a beautiful chip-kick over the defensive line, but Olivia Kernick was unable to gather the ball.
A handling error by the Tricolours coming out of their own half invited North Queensland into the contest, with Kirra Dibb selling a dummy before splitting the defence to dive over the line for the opening try.
The Cowboys' Skipper converted her own try to give the visitors a six-point lead after 11 minutes.
North Queensland continued to challenge the Roosters' defence in the minutes that followed, with a repeat set of six allowing the visitors to set up camp close to their line.
But the Bondi Wall maintained their defensive fortitude, absorbing a mountain of pressure before issuing a response through Corban Baxter, who finished off a classy left edge play that saw Isabelle Kelly and Tarryn Aiken combine before the ball found the fullback.
A perfect put-down by Baxter
Jocelyn Kelleher made no mistake with the conversion, locking up the scores at six-apiece.
Three minutes later, the Roosters doubled up when Otesa Pule brushed through the hands of multiple Cowboys defenders then found her speedy Skipper Kelly with a slick short-ball to send her over the stripe. Kelleher added the extras to give the hosts a six-point lead.
Kelly so quick
North Queensland struck back with a superb grubber from Dibb bouncing up for Bree Chester over the line on the right edge, but the halfback's conversion waved way, leaving the score at 12-10.
Kernick latched onto a charge down attempt in the 34th minute, breaking through the scattered Cowboys' defensive line to carry the Roosters within metres of their stripe.
But it was Aiken who exerted her dominance in the final play of the half, capitalising off a miscommunication by the Cowboys back-line to snatch her own chip-and-chase attempt and score on the siren. Kelleher converted from in-front to put the Roosters ahead by eight points at the break.
Tarryn Aiken is a star
The Tricolours picked up where they left off, with a sensational run by Kelleher laying the platform for Aiken to secure a double after Kelly broke through the line and found her five-eighth in support.
Aiken doubles up
Losing Pani Hopoate to a sin-bin, the Roosters continued to trouble the Cowboys' defence as Jayme Fressard and Otesa Pule crossed for tries in quick succession, with Kelleher converting both to make the difference 26.
Another brilliant play by Kelly allowed the halfback to bag her own try after latching onto an offload and wrestling the ball to the ground in the corner.
Jetaya Faifua produced something from nothing to claim a try through a chip and chase with two minutes remaining, before Dibb added the extras to extend the Cowboys' tally to 16.
Sydney Roosters 40 (Corban Baxter, Isabelle Kelly, Tarryn Aiken 2, Jayme Fressard, Otesa Pule, Jocelyn Kelleher tries, Jocelyn Kelleher 6 goals) def North Queensland Cowboys 16.
