Four of the Roosters junior representative sides have improved their ladder positions as teams tussle for final berths, whilst the one Roosters team that lost remained inside the Top Four in their competition, despite their loss.
S.G. Ball Cup (Men’s Under 19s)
The Sydney Roosters S.G. Ball Cup team have had their best win of the season in defeating last season’s grand finalists Canterbury-Bankstown 36-4 at a very wet Mascot Oval to move into 4th place on the table.
The home side went into the game again without first choice fullback Rex Bassingthwaite (shoulder; season) and hooker and captain Jackson Allen (jaw; long term) but once again their replacements stood tall filling in for such talented players.
The Roosters scored first through another barnstorming try to left edge, Darcy Smith, off a Toby Rodwell pass. Rodwell returned to the team this week after playing two grades up in the N.S.W. Cup over the previous fortnight. A second first half try, this time on the right side of the field, to centre Lachlan Dooner, off a Tyson Walker pass, left the half time score as 10-4 in favour of the Roosters.
The moment of the match was to occur early in the second half. A kick diffused by Bulldogs left centre Chayse Georos near his own tryline led to a 90-metre dash downfield. With the game still well within the balance Roosters fullback Jackson Stewart put up an almighty chase to run down Georos just before he was to dive over the tryline and likely square the scores. It was to be the closest the Bulldogs would go to scoring for the rest of the game.
On the back of Stewart’s heroics, Boyd Cordner’s men ran in four second half tries to nil to announce themselves as genuine premiership contenders. Right winger Mickey Nassar scored the first of his double in the 47th minute, whilst Lachlan Dooner scored his second try of the match soon after, off a lovely Rodwell short kick. Late opportunist tries to Nassar (his second) and interchange forward Eddy Cayless blew the score out to 36-4 but it was a very convincing win. Once again, the Roosters forwards dominated their opponents and in difficult conditions five eighth Tyson Walker kicked six goals from seven attempts, a number of those from wide out.
The Roosters next travel to New Zealand to play the 12th placed New Zealand Warriors with the opportunity to lock up a top four spot for the Roosters there for the taking.
Harold Matthews Cup (Men’s Under 17s)
The Sydney Roosters Harold Matthews Cup team have marched into the top four with a 12-0 victory over the previously undefeated competition leaders, the Illawarra Steelers. A match played in steady rain on a very wet pitch, saw a scoreless first half in which the Steelers dominated possession and field position. The Roosters defence, however, was resolute, denying Illawarra time after time on their own tryline.
The stalemate was broken early in the second half with a Roosters penalty goal before a slick backline movement, soon after, saw left centre Bastion Armstrong send his winger Filip Kakauho over in the corner. The Roosters held that 6-0 lead into the final minutes of the game until five eighth Charlie Webb ran 85 meters to score a converted try, after a misdirected Steelers kick, to wrap up the game for the underdogs.
The win lifted the Roosters into the top four, joining their Central Coast brothers. This is a remarkable achievement for the Roosters Club given their best Under 17s players are split across the two teams; the Sydney Roosters and the Central Coast Roosters.
However, for the Sydney Roosters to stay in the top four for Week One of the finals they will, in all probability, need to beat competition leaders and defending premiers the New Zealand Warriors in New Zealand next Sunday. That is a daunting task, given the Warriors Harold Matthews Cup team has only lost twice at home since entering the competition.
After five successive wins, the Central Coast Roosters Harold Matthews Cup team have suffered their second loss of the season, going down 10-6 to Parramatta in Granville.
Played in wet conditions the recent good form of the Roosters deserted them and whilst both sides struggled to hold the ball it was the Eels that were able to cross twice to take the two points. Both Eels tries were scored wide out on their right side.
The Roosters lone try came early in the second half, courtesy of a lovely show and go by Roosters halfback and captain Carter Mareko, his fourth try of the season.
Despite the loss, the Roosters remain inside the top four and with a final round match against 16th placed Penrith at Windsor next Saturday they are still well placed to be in that Top Four for Week One of the finals. as long as the beat the Panthers.
Tarsha Gale Cup (Women’s Under 19s)
The Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy team have defeated Manly-Warringah 30-0 in their Round 8 clash at Berkley Vale to move into sixth place on the Tarsha Gale Cup competition table. The Roosters scored seven tries, with left winger Fa’agase Tupuola-Palale scoring four tries, taking her try tally to six from just the last two games.
The Roosters were far too strong but face sterner opposition in their final round match on Saturday when they play 2nd placed Illawarra at Woy Woy on Saturday. A win could possibly see the Roosters move into the top four but a loss could drop them down to as low as 7th.
Lisa Fiaola Cup (Women’s Under 17s)
The Central Coast Roosters Lisa Fiaola Cup team has returned to the winners list, after last weeks shock loss to Cronulla-Sutherland. The Roosters have run in eleven tries in beating Manly-Warringah 48-0 at Berkley Vale to hold on to second place with one round remaining prior to the finals.
This is the fifth time this season (from seven matches) that the Roosters have kept their opponents tryless. The Roosters have now scored 57 tries to their opponents four this season, with captain and five eighth Mia Vaoutuua scoring 11 of those tries.
Against Manly the Roosters scored seven first half tries before scoring four more in the second half as the Roosters secured a top four berth for this year’s finals.
The Roosters final round match is against 8th placed Illawarra at Woy Woy on Saturday.
Laurie Daley Cup (Men’s Regional Under 18s)
Competition completed for the Central Coast Roosters.
Andrew Johns Cup (Men’s Regional Under 16s)
Competition completed for the Central Coast Roosters.
See the latest results below for all the Junior Representative sides:
| Competition | Home Team | Away Team | Match Info | Next Round | Ladder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.G. Ball Cup | Sydney Roosters (36) | Canterbury- Bankstown (4) | Match Stats | v Warriors | 4th |
| Harold Matthews Cup | Sydney Roosters (12) | Illawarra Steelers (0) | Match Stats | v Warriors | 4th |
| Harold Matthews Cup | Parramatta Eels (10) | Central Coast Roosters (6) | Match Stats | v Panthers | 3rd |
| Tarsha Gale Cup | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (0) | Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy (30) | Match Stats | v Steelers | 6th |
| Lisa Fiola Cup | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (0) | Central Coast Roosters (48) | Match Stats | v Steelers | 2nd |
| Laurie Daly Cup | Competition Complete for the Central Coast Roosters. | ||||
| Andrew Johns Cup | Competition Complete for the Central Coast Roosters | ||||
