Post by padds on Mar 12, 2021 8:51:10 GMT
Premier League
The Match of the Day in Week 3 was the game between Brisbane Raiders and Merseyside Dockers at the Suncorp Stadium. The early pacesetters had won both their first two games and this meeting was eagerly anticipated. Comp favourites Brisbane had taken out the reigning champions Darwin and Adelaide and were now up against Merseyside Dockers who had beaten Hull and also Darwin. Brisbane were missing injured William Isa with Aiden Tolman returning and Merseyside were without Ken Maumalo.
An early break by Aiden Sezer resulted in a Raiders penalty for holding down and Gareth Widdop continued his dramatic start to the season with an easy penalty. It was a very tense start to the game with lots of errors, but the Dockers got one right as Josh Morris made a great break down the left and sent Jermaine McGilvary in at the corner. Clint Gutherson was restored as goal kicker, but couldn’t convert. Merseyside were having trouble keeping their tempers and gave away penalty after penalty and Widdop kicked 4 goals, missing 1. Half-time score was 10-4.
Widdop kicked another penalty early in the second stanza and then sub William Hopoate left the pitch with a gashed leg. When it looked like Dockers were just going to fade away they bounced back with a try out of nothing. A Brisbane attack broke down on Merseyside’s 13 metre line, and after 5 tackles they had progressed 80 metres. Instead of kicking the Dockers ran the ball and Josh Addo-Carr made the gap for Kotoni Staggs to cross for his 4th try of the season. Again Gutherson failed with conversion.. 25 minutes to go, and Dockers were back in the game, but immediately gave away another penalty, and Widdop obliged with the 2 points. After a Brisbane try was disallowed by the video ref Gutherson kicked a goal when Merseyside got a penalty of their own. This brought sarcastic cheers from the Anfield crowd. There were more cheers as Widdop missed a 2nd kick at goal. He had the last laugh as Dockers dropped out from the miss and Raiders came straight back with a great break by George Lawler handing on to Konrad Hurrell touching down under the sticks. Widdop kicked his 8th goal of the game as Brisbane ran out 20-10 winners. A disappointing game, spoiled by too many penalties, 12-4 to Brisbane. Dockers can only blame their discipline as giving Widdop 10 shots at good doesn’t auger well. Will Hopoate caught a 4 weeker, but Brisbane didn’t get even an injury. With luck like that and a kicker like Widdop, who has kicked 19 goals in the first 3 matches, can Brisbane go all the way and win every game this season? Three difficult games out the way and Sydney next. Who knows?
Early kick-off this week was in New Zealand as Auckland Orcas played Adelaide Attitude at Null. Auckland were unchanged, while Adelaide had to shuffle their backs to make up for James Maloney’s absence. Looking to stop a losing start to the season Attitude began well and took the lead through impressive Alexander Brimson, playing standoff this week, Sam Tomkins converted, but 2 Stefan Ratchford penalties and a try from Man of the Match Toby King followed by a converted try from Mikaele Ravalawa meant the Orcas led by 8 at half-time.
Adelaide were out the blocks early in the second stanza and Joseph Manu scored a converted try in the first minute. Auckland responded strongly and Tom Burgess scored 3 minutes later. Ratchford added the goal and the lead was back to 8. Winless Attitude were not prepared to lie down and came back again through a converted Mitch Barnett try. Both sides had chances to score before Ratchford made the game safe with a drop goal 90 seconds from time as Auckland ran out 21-18.
Darwin Dragons entertained Sydney Oilers at the Darwin Dragons Stadium. For the Dragons Jahrome Hughes moved to standoff for the injured Luke Keary and Kurt Capewell came in at fullback. Cameron McInnes filled in for Blake Lawrie at looseforward and John Bateman returned. Sydney made wholesale changes to accommodate several niggles and to inject some enthusiasm after two regulation defeats.
As expected from two teams who were winless and in the bottom three the game was lethargic and Darwin looked to have the edge through a Nathan Cleary penalty and a try from Moeaki Fotuaika as halftime approached. However, the Oilers took advantage of bad defence by the Dragons ad Valentine Holmes squeezed over in the corner. Daly Cherry-Evans converted brilliantly from the sidelines and the scores were level.
Caretaker coach Bill Vikas must have had a word or two at halftime as the Dragons started to play. A second try by Fotuaika, converted bu Cleary, who added a penalty before Kurt Capewell scored a converted try to see Darwin run out comfortable winners 20 points to 6.
Perth Panthers were at home to Gold Coast Crusade at the Optus Stadium. Perth had Josh Hodgson and James Fisher-Harris back from injury as they tried to cause an upset against a strong Gold Coast team. Crusade made mass changes due to niggling injuries from last weeks win over Auckland, but still turned out a strong team.
Crusade settled quickly and took the lead from Justin Olam, converted by Albert Kelly, but Perth hit back and levelled through try from Luciano Leilua. Craig Hall added the goal, and as the Panthers took control he added the goal to a Sione Mata'utia try and then kicked a penalty as Perth led 14-6 at the break.
Matt Lyon’s team is not known for giving up and within 2 minutes of the restart they were ahead. Tries from Tom Johnstone and Ben Hunt, the first converted by Kelly saw Crusade take the lead. Perth never looked like upsetting the odds now, and Josh Papaali suffered a bad injury as Gold Coast eased to victory with a try from Joe Westerman.. Crusaders won 20-14.
In the evening match Hull Kingston Redskins took on Glasgow Reapers at the Kcom Stadium. Both teams fielded the same teams in the second Battle of Britain this season. A fairly uneventful first half was broken by a catch in gaol for a touchdown by Josh Jones and a conversion by Shaun Johnson saw the Redskins lead at the half.
Things got worse for Glasgow as a kick through from Johnson saw him score a second try fro Hull, which he converted. Injures dominated the game now as Lachlan Coote was carried off with a 5 week injury and Isiah Yeo sustained a 2 weeker. For Hull Kevin Proctor pick up a 3 weeker and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 weeks. Mosese Suli scored a consolation try as Hull eased to a 12-4 win in a poor match.
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Byron Brewers took on Kensington Highrollers at Byron. The Brewers are yet to lose this season and a game against winless Kensington looked an easy afternoon. It took Byron 56 seconds to get the scoreboard moving as Man of the Match Tom Lineham scored a try, goaled by Jamayne Isaako. A penalty for a dangerous tackle on Lineham made it 8-0, but the Highrollers picked up a try by Waqa Blake, converted by Marc Sneyd. Brewers hit back with a converted try by Patrick Herbert and one from Connor Tracey to lead 18-6 at the break,. They ran away with it in the second half with a second from Herbert and one from Charnze Nicol-Klokstead, both converted. Brewers ran out 30-6 winners, but Reimis Smith and Nicho Hynes both took knocks which will keep them out next week. For Kensington Marc Sneyd also took a knock and will miss the next match. Both team s keep their 100% record Byron 3 wins, Kensington 3 losses.
League leaders Mandurah Maples took on Sunshine Coast Fury at the Campbelltown Stadium with their 100% record on the line. Ill discipline by Mandurah gave Sunshine Coast 3 penalties in kickable positions and Jake Clifford obliged each time. Clifford bossed the game for the Fury to earn the Man of the Match and created a try for Sam Stone as Sunshine Coast cruised home 12-0. To rub salt into their wounds Maples prop Andrew Fifita limped off with a 3 week injury.
Trafford Metro played Partick Pirates at Old Trafford with a 100% record and led 6-0 after 2 minutes as Jake Trueman scored his 2nd try in 2 games. Lee Gaskell added the 2. Partick had lost their first 2 games, but looked anything but losers as they stormed back to score through Danny Walker, converted by Rhyse Martin, Charlie Staines and Dominic Manfredi to lead 16-6 at halftime. Jarrod Wallace and Man of the Match Martin added further converted tries as the Pirates confounded the form book to win easily, 28-6.
Surfers Paradise Punks entertained South Lancs Saints at Carrera and the Saints shaded the first half with tries from Joe Mellor and Tex Hoy. Semi Valemei goaled both and they led 12-6 as the Punks replied with a try form Kane Evans converted by Cameron Smith, who decided this week that this will be his last season in the ASRL. Surfers Paradise equalised with a converted try by Robert Lui, but South Lancs answered with a score from Aaron Smith. Cameron Smith added the points to tries by himself and Mark Nicholls to lead by 8 with 20 minutes to go but the Saints weren’t finished as Coen Hess barged over the line. Valemei added the goal and also converted a try by Jake Wardle. Joe Mellor dropped a goal as South Lancs took the game 29-24. A Ben Crookes soured the win and Zak Hardaker was injured for the Punks.
In the final game Alice Spring Dingoes played Balmain Storm at Barlow Park. Balmain took an early lead with a Jarrod Croker penalty and that was it for their scoring Alice replied with tries from Josh Hoffman and Jack Gosiewski goaled by Mason Lino, who also added a penalty goal to lead 14-2 at the break. A lacklustre second half produced just one score from Eddie Blacker as Alice won easily 20-2. Balmain's season went from bad to worse as star halfback Ashley Taylor limped off with a 3 week injury.
The Match of the Day in Week 3 was the game between Brisbane Raiders and Merseyside Dockers at the Suncorp Stadium. The early pacesetters had won both their first two games and this meeting was eagerly anticipated. Comp favourites Brisbane had taken out the reigning champions Darwin and Adelaide and were now up against Merseyside Dockers who had beaten Hull and also Darwin. Brisbane were missing injured William Isa with Aiden Tolman returning and Merseyside were without Ken Maumalo.
An early break by Aiden Sezer resulted in a Raiders penalty for holding down and Gareth Widdop continued his dramatic start to the season with an easy penalty. It was a very tense start to the game with lots of errors, but the Dockers got one right as Josh Morris made a great break down the left and sent Jermaine McGilvary in at the corner. Clint Gutherson was restored as goal kicker, but couldn’t convert. Merseyside were having trouble keeping their tempers and gave away penalty after penalty and Widdop kicked 4 goals, missing 1. Half-time score was 10-4.
Widdop kicked another penalty early in the second stanza and then sub William Hopoate left the pitch with a gashed leg. When it looked like Dockers were just going to fade away they bounced back with a try out of nothing. A Brisbane attack broke down on Merseyside’s 13 metre line, and after 5 tackles they had progressed 80 metres. Instead of kicking the Dockers ran the ball and Josh Addo-Carr made the gap for Kotoni Staggs to cross for his 4th try of the season. Again Gutherson failed with conversion.. 25 minutes to go, and Dockers were back in the game, but immediately gave away another penalty, and Widdop obliged with the 2 points. After a Brisbane try was disallowed by the video ref Gutherson kicked a goal when Merseyside got a penalty of their own. This brought sarcastic cheers from the Anfield crowd. There were more cheers as Widdop missed a 2nd kick at goal. He had the last laugh as Dockers dropped out from the miss and Raiders came straight back with a great break by George Lawler handing on to Konrad Hurrell touching down under the sticks. Widdop kicked his 8th goal of the game as Brisbane ran out 20-10 winners. A disappointing game, spoiled by too many penalties, 12-4 to Brisbane. Dockers can only blame their discipline as giving Widdop 10 shots at good doesn’t auger well. Will Hopoate caught a 4 weeker, but Brisbane didn’t get even an injury. With luck like that and a kicker like Widdop, who has kicked 19 goals in the first 3 matches, can Brisbane go all the way and win every game this season? Three difficult games out the way and Sydney next. Who knows?
Early kick-off this week was in New Zealand as Auckland Orcas played Adelaide Attitude at Null. Auckland were unchanged, while Adelaide had to shuffle their backs to make up for James Maloney’s absence. Looking to stop a losing start to the season Attitude began well and took the lead through impressive Alexander Brimson, playing standoff this week, Sam Tomkins converted, but 2 Stefan Ratchford penalties and a try from Man of the Match Toby King followed by a converted try from Mikaele Ravalawa meant the Orcas led by 8 at half-time.
Adelaide were out the blocks early in the second stanza and Joseph Manu scored a converted try in the first minute. Auckland responded strongly and Tom Burgess scored 3 minutes later. Ratchford added the goal and the lead was back to 8. Winless Attitude were not prepared to lie down and came back again through a converted Mitch Barnett try. Both sides had chances to score before Ratchford made the game safe with a drop goal 90 seconds from time as Auckland ran out 21-18.
Darwin Dragons entertained Sydney Oilers at the Darwin Dragons Stadium. For the Dragons Jahrome Hughes moved to standoff for the injured Luke Keary and Kurt Capewell came in at fullback. Cameron McInnes filled in for Blake Lawrie at looseforward and John Bateman returned. Sydney made wholesale changes to accommodate several niggles and to inject some enthusiasm after two regulation defeats.
As expected from two teams who were winless and in the bottom three the game was lethargic and Darwin looked to have the edge through a Nathan Cleary penalty and a try from Moeaki Fotuaika as halftime approached. However, the Oilers took advantage of bad defence by the Dragons ad Valentine Holmes squeezed over in the corner. Daly Cherry-Evans converted brilliantly from the sidelines and the scores were level.
Caretaker coach Bill Vikas must have had a word or two at halftime as the Dragons started to play. A second try by Fotuaika, converted bu Cleary, who added a penalty before Kurt Capewell scored a converted try to see Darwin run out comfortable winners 20 points to 6.
Perth Panthers were at home to Gold Coast Crusade at the Optus Stadium. Perth had Josh Hodgson and James Fisher-Harris back from injury as they tried to cause an upset against a strong Gold Coast team. Crusade made mass changes due to niggling injuries from last weeks win over Auckland, but still turned out a strong team.
Crusade settled quickly and took the lead from Justin Olam, converted by Albert Kelly, but Perth hit back and levelled through try from Luciano Leilua. Craig Hall added the goal, and as the Panthers took control he added the goal to a Sione Mata'utia try and then kicked a penalty as Perth led 14-6 at the break.
Matt Lyon’s team is not known for giving up and within 2 minutes of the restart they were ahead. Tries from Tom Johnstone and Ben Hunt, the first converted by Kelly saw Crusade take the lead. Perth never looked like upsetting the odds now, and Josh Papaali suffered a bad injury as Gold Coast eased to victory with a try from Joe Westerman.. Crusaders won 20-14.
In the evening match Hull Kingston Redskins took on Glasgow Reapers at the Kcom Stadium. Both teams fielded the same teams in the second Battle of Britain this season. A fairly uneventful first half was broken by a catch in gaol for a touchdown by Josh Jones and a conversion by Shaun Johnson saw the Redskins lead at the half.
Things got worse for Glasgow as a kick through from Johnson saw him score a second try fro Hull, which he converted. Injures dominated the game now as Lachlan Coote was carried off with a 5 week injury and Isiah Yeo sustained a 2 weeker. For Hull Kevin Proctor pick up a 3 weeker and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 weeks. Mosese Suli scored a consolation try as Hull eased to a 12-4 win in a poor match.
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Byron Brewers took on Kensington Highrollers at Byron. The Brewers are yet to lose this season and a game against winless Kensington looked an easy afternoon. It took Byron 56 seconds to get the scoreboard moving as Man of the Match Tom Lineham scored a try, goaled by Jamayne Isaako. A penalty for a dangerous tackle on Lineham made it 8-0, but the Highrollers picked up a try by Waqa Blake, converted by Marc Sneyd. Brewers hit back with a converted try by Patrick Herbert and one from Connor Tracey to lead 18-6 at the break,. They ran away with it in the second half with a second from Herbert and one from Charnze Nicol-Klokstead, both converted. Brewers ran out 30-6 winners, but Reimis Smith and Nicho Hynes both took knocks which will keep them out next week. For Kensington Marc Sneyd also took a knock and will miss the next match. Both team s keep their 100% record Byron 3 wins, Kensington 3 losses.
League leaders Mandurah Maples took on Sunshine Coast Fury at the Campbelltown Stadium with their 100% record on the line. Ill discipline by Mandurah gave Sunshine Coast 3 penalties in kickable positions and Jake Clifford obliged each time. Clifford bossed the game for the Fury to earn the Man of the Match and created a try for Sam Stone as Sunshine Coast cruised home 12-0. To rub salt into their wounds Maples prop Andrew Fifita limped off with a 3 week injury.
Trafford Metro played Partick Pirates at Old Trafford with a 100% record and led 6-0 after 2 minutes as Jake Trueman scored his 2nd try in 2 games. Lee Gaskell added the 2. Partick had lost their first 2 games, but looked anything but losers as they stormed back to score through Danny Walker, converted by Rhyse Martin, Charlie Staines and Dominic Manfredi to lead 16-6 at halftime. Jarrod Wallace and Man of the Match Martin added further converted tries as the Pirates confounded the form book to win easily, 28-6.
Surfers Paradise Punks entertained South Lancs Saints at Carrera and the Saints shaded the first half with tries from Joe Mellor and Tex Hoy. Semi Valemei goaled both and they led 12-6 as the Punks replied with a try form Kane Evans converted by Cameron Smith, who decided this week that this will be his last season in the ASRL. Surfers Paradise equalised with a converted try by Robert Lui, but South Lancs answered with a score from Aaron Smith. Cameron Smith added the points to tries by himself and Mark Nicholls to lead by 8 with 20 minutes to go but the Saints weren’t finished as Coen Hess barged over the line. Valemei added the goal and also converted a try by Jake Wardle. Joe Mellor dropped a goal as South Lancs took the game 29-24. A Ben Crookes soured the win and Zak Hardaker was injured for the Punks.
In the final game Alice Spring Dingoes played Balmain Storm at Barlow Park. Balmain took an early lead with a Jarrod Croker penalty and that was it for their scoring Alice replied with tries from Josh Hoffman and Jack Gosiewski goaled by Mason Lino, who also added a penalty goal to lead 14-2 at the break. A lacklustre second half produced just one score from Eddie Blacker as Alice won easily 20-2. Balmain's season went from bad to worse as star halfback Ashley Taylor limped off with a 3 week injury.