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Ticket pre-sales had been poor for the Anzac Test at the SCG, but a huge walk-up saw 34,571 fans walk through the
gates for the international clash; and within 20 minutes it was already looking like a walkover when the Australians had
run in 4 tries and led 22-0. But the New Zealand side steadied, and won the second half to restore some respectability
to proceedings. To celebrate 100 years of rugby league, both teams wore old-style jumpers; with the Australians
wearing a red, blue and grey outfit instead of the green and gold that has become a familiar sight for Kangaroo teams.
Australia 28 def New Zealand 12
Australia : Tries - M Gasnier 2, I Folau, C Smith, P Gallen. Goals - J Thurston 4/5.
New Zealand : Tries - S Soliola, S Perrett. Goals - I Luke 1/1, J Smith 1/1.
Referee - A Klein. Crowd - 34,571 at SCG.
The Roosters returned to the winning streak, snapping their 2-game losing streak in emphatic style with a 30-4
demolition of Canberra at the Sydney Football Stadium. Mitchell Aubusson set the tone for the night by twice breaking
his way through the flimsy Raiders defence in the first 22 minutes; and from there on the Raiders were never in the
contest. The Roosters recorded a massive 60% of possession, starving the hapless Raiders of opportunities.
Sydney Roosters 30 def Canberra 4
Roosters : Tries - M Aubusson 2, S Soliola, B Anasta, M O'Meley. Goals - C Fitzgibbon 4/5, A Roberts 1/1.
Raiders : Tries - J Monaghan. Goals - T Carney 0/1.
Referee - J Robinson. Crowd - 10,241 at Sydney Football Stadium.
The Bulldogs' inconsistent season continued to frustrate experts and tipsters alike when they were thrashed 30-4 at
home by Penrith on Saturday night. The Bulldogs were dreadful, with knock-ons, turnovers and kicks failing to find
touch aplenty. The Panthers only needed to maintain possession during their sets to continue to advance on the
scoreboard; and did that sensationally. The Bulldogs were not to get on the scoreboard until the dying seconds of the
game, and by then the damage was done; with the Panthers, despite predictions pre-season of doom and gloom, now
amazingly within sight of the top 8.
Penrith 30 def Bulldogs 4
Panthers : Tries - B Tighe 2, M Gordon, L Lewis, F Pritchard. Goals - M Gordon 5/5.
Bulldogs : Tries - M Utai. Goals - D Holdsworth 0/1.
Referee - J Maxwell. Crowd - 10,257 at ANZ Stadium.
The closest game of the Saturday evening came from Townsville, where Cronulla stunned the locals early and hung on
to record an important victory. The Sharks dominated the early proceedings, with Brett Kearney and Fraser Anderson
both going over within the first 10 minutes. The Sharks led 22-6 at the break, and a penalty goal to Luke Covell shortly
after half-time gave them a 3 converted try buffer. But the Cowboys werent done yet; with Carl Webb and Luke O'Donnell
scoring converted tries within 3 minutes to cut the margin back to just 6 points. But despite a parochial home crowd,
the Cowboys were unable to find another score to force the match into golden point; and instead it was the Sharks that
took the points to maintain their position in the top 8.
Cronulla 24 def North Queensland 18
Sharks : Tries - B Kearney, F Anderson, P Gallen, L Douglas. Goals L Covell 4/5. Field Goals - B Kimmorley 0/1.
Cowboys : Tries - M Henry, C Webb, L O'Donnell. Goals - J Thurston 3/3.
Referee - T Archer. Crowd - 17,065 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
gates for the international clash; and within 20 minutes it was already looking like a walkover when the Australians had
run in 4 tries and led 22-0. But the New Zealand side steadied, and won the second half to restore some respectability
to proceedings. To celebrate 100 years of rugby league, both teams wore old-style jumpers; with the Australians
wearing a red, blue and grey outfit instead of the green and gold that has become a familiar sight for Kangaroo teams.
Australia 28 def New Zealand 12
Australia : Tries - M Gasnier 2, I Folau, C Smith, P Gallen. Goals - J Thurston 4/5.
New Zealand : Tries - S Soliola, S Perrett. Goals - I Luke 1/1, J Smith 1/1.
Referee - A Klein. Crowd - 34,571 at SCG.
The Roosters returned to the winning streak, snapping their 2-game losing streak in emphatic style with a 30-4
demolition of Canberra at the Sydney Football Stadium. Mitchell Aubusson set the tone for the night by twice breaking
his way through the flimsy Raiders defence in the first 22 minutes; and from there on the Raiders were never in the
contest. The Roosters recorded a massive 60% of possession, starving the hapless Raiders of opportunities.
Sydney Roosters 30 def Canberra 4
Roosters : Tries - M Aubusson 2, S Soliola, B Anasta, M O'Meley. Goals - C Fitzgibbon 4/5, A Roberts 1/1.
Raiders : Tries - J Monaghan. Goals - T Carney 0/1.
Referee - J Robinson. Crowd - 10,241 at Sydney Football Stadium.
The Bulldogs' inconsistent season continued to frustrate experts and tipsters alike when they were thrashed 30-4 at
home by Penrith on Saturday night. The Bulldogs were dreadful, with knock-ons, turnovers and kicks failing to find
touch aplenty. The Panthers only needed to maintain possession during their sets to continue to advance on the
scoreboard; and did that sensationally. The Bulldogs were not to get on the scoreboard until the dying seconds of the
game, and by then the damage was done; with the Panthers, despite predictions pre-season of doom and gloom, now
amazingly within sight of the top 8.
Penrith 30 def Bulldogs 4
Panthers : Tries - B Tighe 2, M Gordon, L Lewis, F Pritchard. Goals - M Gordon 5/5.
Bulldogs : Tries - M Utai. Goals - D Holdsworth 0/1.
Referee - J Maxwell. Crowd - 10,257 at ANZ Stadium.
The closest game of the Saturday evening came from Townsville, where Cronulla stunned the locals early and hung on
to record an important victory. The Sharks dominated the early proceedings, with Brett Kearney and Fraser Anderson
both going over within the first 10 minutes. The Sharks led 22-6 at the break, and a penalty goal to Luke Covell shortly
after half-time gave them a 3 converted try buffer. But the Cowboys werent done yet; with Carl Webb and Luke O'Donnell
scoring converted tries within 3 minutes to cut the margin back to just 6 points. But despite a parochial home crowd,
the Cowboys were unable to find another score to force the match into golden point; and instead it was the Sharks that
took the points to maintain their position in the top 8.
Cronulla 24 def North Queensland 18
Sharks : Tries - B Kearney, F Anderson, P Gallen, L Douglas. Goals L Covell 4/5. Field Goals - B Kimmorley 0/1.
Cowboys : Tries - M Henry, C Webb, L O'Donnell. Goals - J Thurston 3/3.
Referee - T Archer. Crowd - 17,065 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
| ROUND 9 FIXTURES: (All times shown are Sydney time) Friday 16th May Parramatta v Sydney Roosters (Parramatta Stadium, 7:30pm) Gold Coast v Bulldogs (Skilled Park, 7:30pm) Saturday 17th May Cronulla v Brisbane (Toyota Stadium, 5:30pm) Manly v North Queensland (Central Coast Stadium, 7:30pm) St George-Illawarra v Melbourne (ANZ Stadium, 7:30pm) Sunday 18th May Penrith v New Zealand Warriors (CUA Stadium, 2:00pm) Newcastle v Wests Tigers (Energy Australia Stadium, 3:00pm) Monday 19th May Canberra v South Sydney (Canberra Stadium, 7:00pm) |
When Denan Kemp and Michael Ennis crossed over for the Broncos within the first 15 minutes to give the home
side a 10-0 lead against Manly; few would have predicted the Sea Eagle onslaught that was to follow. Five
unanswered tries would give the Manly side a comfortable win, the highlight of the match being a length of the field
run as Manly veteran Steve Menzies turned back the clock to record his first try of the season. With Matt Orford in
strong form with the boot, scoring 5 from 6, the Broncos had no answers and no way of forcing themselves back into
the contest; with the Sea Eagles joining the Broncos for a share of second spot on 12 points.
Manly 30 def Brisbane 12
Sea Eagles : Goals - B Stewart, M Robertson, S Bell, S Menzies, B Kite. Goals - M Orford 5/6.
Broncos : Tries - D Kemp, M Ennis. Goals - M Ennis 2/3.
Referee - S Hayne. Crowd - 27,469 at Suncorp Stadium.
Parramatta did what they had to do to defeat St George-Illawarra at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, but it wasn't a match
that raised any excitement despite the close scoreline at the end. The Dragons in particular will be left to lament
some fundamental skill errors that cost them any chance of fighting their way back into the contest after Eric Grothe
exposed some gaping holes in their defence to score the opening try after just 6 minutes. In the end it was only Brett
Finch's field goal that separated the teams, but that margin flattered St George who scored a late consolation
converted try after the siren. Parramatta, having moved their home game to Homebush, would have been
disappointed that only 16,000 people, less than the capacity at Parramatta Stadium, attended this match.
Parramatta 19 def St George-Illawarra 18.
Eels : Tries - E Grothe, J Hayne, L Burt. Goals - L Burt 3/3. Field Goals - B Finch 1/1.
Dragons : Tries - J Nightingale, M Cooper, C Stanley. Goals - J Soward 3/3.
Referee -S Hampstead. Crowd - 16,313 at ANZ Stadium.
Half time, Melbourne 0 Newcastle 0. No, it wasn't the Victory v the Jets in the A-League, it was a scoreless opening
stanza to Monday night NRL at Olympic Park; with both sides' defences holding firm but neither side able to convert
their scoring opportunities. But after the break the Storm got their game going, with the reigning premiers running in
3 tries to 1 to move to the top of the table. Worryingly for both Newcastle and the NSW State of Origin team, Knights
halfback Kurt Gidley was knocked out and suffered a broken cheekbone.
Melbourne 18 def Newcastle 4
Storm : Tries - I Folau 2, A Quinn. Goals - C Smith 3/3.
Knights : Tries - J Mullen. Goals - K Gidley 0/1.
Referee - B Cummins. Crowd - 10,624 at Olympic Park.
side a 10-0 lead against Manly; few would have predicted the Sea Eagle onslaught that was to follow. Five
unanswered tries would give the Manly side a comfortable win, the highlight of the match being a length of the field
run as Manly veteran Steve Menzies turned back the clock to record his first try of the season. With Matt Orford in
strong form with the boot, scoring 5 from 6, the Broncos had no answers and no way of forcing themselves back into
the contest; with the Sea Eagles joining the Broncos for a share of second spot on 12 points.
Manly 30 def Brisbane 12
Sea Eagles : Goals - B Stewart, M Robertson, S Bell, S Menzies, B Kite. Goals - M Orford 5/6.
Broncos : Tries - D Kemp, M Ennis. Goals - M Ennis 2/3.
Referee - S Hayne. Crowd - 27,469 at Suncorp Stadium.
Parramatta did what they had to do to defeat St George-Illawarra at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, but it wasn't a match
that raised any excitement despite the close scoreline at the end. The Dragons in particular will be left to lament
some fundamental skill errors that cost them any chance of fighting their way back into the contest after Eric Grothe
exposed some gaping holes in their defence to score the opening try after just 6 minutes. In the end it was only Brett
Finch's field goal that separated the teams, but that margin flattered St George who scored a late consolation
converted try after the siren. Parramatta, having moved their home game to Homebush, would have been
disappointed that only 16,000 people, less than the capacity at Parramatta Stadium, attended this match.
Parramatta 19 def St George-Illawarra 18.
Eels : Tries - E Grothe, J Hayne, L Burt. Goals - L Burt 3/3. Field Goals - B Finch 1/1.
Dragons : Tries - J Nightingale, M Cooper, C Stanley. Goals - J Soward 3/3.
Referee -S Hampstead. Crowd - 16,313 at ANZ Stadium.
Half time, Melbourne 0 Newcastle 0. No, it wasn't the Victory v the Jets in the A-League, it was a scoreless opening
stanza to Monday night NRL at Olympic Park; with both sides' defences holding firm but neither side able to convert
their scoring opportunities. But after the break the Storm got their game going, with the reigning premiers running in
3 tries to 1 to move to the top of the table. Worryingly for both Newcastle and the NSW State of Origin team, Knights
halfback Kurt Gidley was knocked out and suffered a broken cheekbone.
Melbourne 18 def Newcastle 4
Storm : Tries - I Folau 2, A Quinn. Goals - C Smith 3/3.
Knights : Tries - J Mullen. Goals - K Gidley 0/1.
Referee - B Cummins. Crowd - 10,624 at Olympic Park.
