Post by padds on Apr 19, 2021 19:35:50 GMT
Match of the Day saw the early matchup of top team Brisbane Raiders and improving Hull Kingston Redskins at the Cbus Super Stadium. Brisbane had started the season strongly, but had slipped to a couple of defeats recently, while after 2 one point defeats Hull had won their last 2. From the off the Redskins were the only team in it and with Shaun Johnson having his game of the season they dominated totally. Johnson scored 2 converted tries to give Hull a halftime 12-0 lead, then completed his hat trick on 65 minutes. Jackson Hastings added an unconverted try to give the Redskins a devastating win, 22-0. The fact that they also had 3 tries disallowed showed how complete the win was. The only downside was that Hull suffered eight injuries, including a 2 month one for Dane Gagai. Brisbane were at full strength and apart from an injury to Manu Ma’u they have no excuse for such an abysmal showing.
Sydney Oilers took on Auckland Orcas at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Oilers were looking to stop a 3 match losing streak against the high riding Orcas, but it was not to be. After Sydney scored first with a Daly Cherry-Evans penalty Auckland took control and ran in 3 tries through Cody Walker, Jesse Ramien and Liam Marshall, all goaled by Stefan Ratchford. Sydney managed to get a converted try just before halftime through Shaun Lane. Auckland stretched away in the second stanza as Ramien notched his 2nd try, his 7th of the season, one from Nelson Asofa-Solomona, both converted and one from Tom Lineham, his 5th of the year. At 34-8 the Orcas eased off and conceded a try converted by DCE to run out easy winners and take over top position, while Sydney are staking their perennial claim for the wooden spoon.
Darwin Dragons played Adelaide Attitude at the Darwin Dragons Stadium on the back of 4 defeats in a row, while Adelaide have turned their season round after a bad start. With Darwin missing Nathan Cleary and Luke Keary in the haves the Attitude looked a good bet, but it was the Dragons who took the lead on 8 minutes through Josh Hoffman, goaled by Latrell Mitchell. After a period of lacklustre play Adelaide hit back with a try by Nathan Brown, who had the chance of getting closer to the sticks, but touched down as soon as he crossed the whitewash. Even star goal kicker could not fashion a conversion, a miss which would ultimately cost the Attitude. Darwin took heart from this and rallied to score through utility Kurt Mann, goaled by Mitchell. The Dragons still led by 8 with 17 minutes to go, but when Waqa Blake scored a great solo try, converted by Maloney, memories of last weeks defeat by Hull when Darwin led by 4 points with 4 minutes to go came flooding back. This week, however, Darwin managed to cling on to a 12-10 win.
At the Glasgow Stadium Glasgow Reapers entertained Gold Coast Crusade. Crusade came out of a mini slump last week and were looking to continue while the Reapers lost last week for the first time in 4 games. The first half was quite poor, with Gold Coast taking the lead through Xavier Coates. Adam Reynolds added the extras and the Glasgow suffered a major blow when Isiah Yeo was carried off with a serious injury. Glasgow rallied with a try by Mitch Pearce and a penalty from Mitch Moses made it 6 apiece at the half. Matt Lyons halftime talks are legendary and after the break Crusade turned on the gas to pull away with tries from Brits Joe Westerman and Matt Whitley with Reynolds goalling both. This took his tally for the season to 24. Gold Coast saw out the rest of the match to win 18-6 and stay at the top with Auckland.
Late kick-off was at Anfield where form team Merseyside Dockers did battle with Perth Panthers. The Dockers were unbeaten in 3 and were hoping to close on Brisbane after their earlier defeat to Hull. For over half an hour of this match defences were on top and chances were very sparse. George Williams was caught offside and after offensive language to referee Ben Cumins he was sin binned for 10 minutes. Merseyside took immediate advantage and Ryan Sutton crashed over for a try, goaled by Clint Gutherson. That was the score at halftime and Perth got a penalty early in the second half. Kyle Feldt kicked the goal. Williams returned and was caught offside to give Gutherson an easy penalty. Soon after Kotoni Staggs crossed for his 6th try of the season and Gutherson made it 14-2. Instead of collapsing Perth stormed back with tries by Jack Wighton and Jason Baitieri Gutherson immediately dropped a goal to put the Dockers back in front only for Wighton to reply and to level at 15 all. With just over a minute left Gutherson shaped up to drop the winning goal, threw a dummy and scored under the sticks. His conversion made it 21-15 to the Dockers.
Top 5
Auckland Orcas 7 2 0 182 127 55 14
Gold Coast Crusade 7 2 0 153 109 44 14
Brisbane Raiders 6 3 0 183 140 43 12
Merseyside Dockers 5 3 1 137 139 -2 11
Hull Kingston Redskins 5 4 0 125 113 12 10
Next Week
Adelaide v Gold Coast
Brisbane v Darwin
Glasgow v Auckland
Merseyside v Hull
Sydney v Perth
Sydney Oilers took on Auckland Orcas at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Oilers were looking to stop a 3 match losing streak against the high riding Orcas, but it was not to be. After Sydney scored first with a Daly Cherry-Evans penalty Auckland took control and ran in 3 tries through Cody Walker, Jesse Ramien and Liam Marshall, all goaled by Stefan Ratchford. Sydney managed to get a converted try just before halftime through Shaun Lane. Auckland stretched away in the second stanza as Ramien notched his 2nd try, his 7th of the season, one from Nelson Asofa-Solomona, both converted and one from Tom Lineham, his 5th of the year. At 34-8 the Orcas eased off and conceded a try converted by DCE to run out easy winners and take over top position, while Sydney are staking their perennial claim for the wooden spoon.
Darwin Dragons played Adelaide Attitude at the Darwin Dragons Stadium on the back of 4 defeats in a row, while Adelaide have turned their season round after a bad start. With Darwin missing Nathan Cleary and Luke Keary in the haves the Attitude looked a good bet, but it was the Dragons who took the lead on 8 minutes through Josh Hoffman, goaled by Latrell Mitchell. After a period of lacklustre play Adelaide hit back with a try by Nathan Brown, who had the chance of getting closer to the sticks, but touched down as soon as he crossed the whitewash. Even star goal kicker could not fashion a conversion, a miss which would ultimately cost the Attitude. Darwin took heart from this and rallied to score through utility Kurt Mann, goaled by Mitchell. The Dragons still led by 8 with 17 minutes to go, but when Waqa Blake scored a great solo try, converted by Maloney, memories of last weeks defeat by Hull when Darwin led by 4 points with 4 minutes to go came flooding back. This week, however, Darwin managed to cling on to a 12-10 win.
At the Glasgow Stadium Glasgow Reapers entertained Gold Coast Crusade. Crusade came out of a mini slump last week and were looking to continue while the Reapers lost last week for the first time in 4 games. The first half was quite poor, with Gold Coast taking the lead through Xavier Coates. Adam Reynolds added the extras and the Glasgow suffered a major blow when Isiah Yeo was carried off with a serious injury. Glasgow rallied with a try by Mitch Pearce and a penalty from Mitch Moses made it 6 apiece at the half. Matt Lyons halftime talks are legendary and after the break Crusade turned on the gas to pull away with tries from Brits Joe Westerman and Matt Whitley with Reynolds goalling both. This took his tally for the season to 24. Gold Coast saw out the rest of the match to win 18-6 and stay at the top with Auckland.
Late kick-off was at Anfield where form team Merseyside Dockers did battle with Perth Panthers. The Dockers were unbeaten in 3 and were hoping to close on Brisbane after their earlier defeat to Hull. For over half an hour of this match defences were on top and chances were very sparse. George Williams was caught offside and after offensive language to referee Ben Cumins he was sin binned for 10 minutes. Merseyside took immediate advantage and Ryan Sutton crashed over for a try, goaled by Clint Gutherson. That was the score at halftime and Perth got a penalty early in the second half. Kyle Feldt kicked the goal. Williams returned and was caught offside to give Gutherson an easy penalty. Soon after Kotoni Staggs crossed for his 6th try of the season and Gutherson made it 14-2. Instead of collapsing Perth stormed back with tries by Jack Wighton and Jason Baitieri Gutherson immediately dropped a goal to put the Dockers back in front only for Wighton to reply and to level at 15 all. With just over a minute left Gutherson shaped up to drop the winning goal, threw a dummy and scored under the sticks. His conversion made it 21-15 to the Dockers.
Top 5
Auckland Orcas 7 2 0 182 127 55 14
Gold Coast Crusade 7 2 0 153 109 44 14
Brisbane Raiders 6 3 0 183 140 43 12
Merseyside Dockers 5 3 1 137 139 -2 11
Hull Kingston Redskins 5 4 0 125 113 12 10
Next Week
Adelaide v Gold Coast
Brisbane v Darwin
Glasgow v Auckland
Merseyside v Hull
Sydney v Perth