Adam Bailey
DeanoHarmoNRL Scoreboard - Round 13
June 11th 2007 11:00
Category: No Category
Friday night was cold and wet at Telstra Stadium, and the few fans in attendance witnessed a desperate slog through the appalling conditions. Paul Mellor went over for Souths in the 5th minute, but it was to be a rare highlight during a dour first half. With points at a premium, Penrith’s Michael Gordon gleefully accepted two penalty goals to tie the scores up at half-time. But it wasn’t to be the Panthers’ night, as Nathan Merrett landed two second-half penalty goals and a late try to Darren Peachey sealed the match. It was the first time Souths had kept an opponent try-less since their re-admission to the NRL and a result that snaps the Rabbitohs’ losing streak and keeps them in touch with the top 8.
South Sydney 14 Tries: P Mellor, D Peachey. Goals: N Merrett 3. Penrith 4 Goals: M Gordon 2.
Crowd: 5,053 at Telstra Stadium.
Canberra went into their match against Parramatta at Bruce Stadium as rank underdogs, but someone forgot to give the Raiders a copy of the script. Parramatta completed the first set of 6 tackles for the game, but didn’t get another go with possession for more than 10 minutes, and by then the Raiders had already run in 4 converted tries. It had been a flying start for the Raiders and from there the result of the game was never in doubt. Glen Turner was the star with 2 tries, while Michael Dobson’s boot was in outstanding form with 5 goals. Parramatta scored twice in the second half to restore some semblance of respectability, but by then the damage was done.
Canberra 38 Tries: G Turner 2, T Campese, S Logan, D Milne, W Zillman, B Cross. Goals: M Dobson 5. Parramata 10 Tries: L Burt, P Marsh. Goals: L Burt.
Crowd: 11,232 at Canberra Stadium.
With the weather in NSW taking a turn for the worse, the Roosters’ home game against North Queensland was notable in the TV pictures for the lack of fans at the ground. The official crowd was posted at just over 4,000, but even that looked to be a major exaggeration over the reality. The few fans that did turn out, however, were to be rewarded with a free-flowing game that belied the tough conditions. Sean Kenny-Dowall was to be the star for the Roosters with a hat-trick; but it was a solid team effort from the Roosters as they ran in 11 tries to 5. With a poor for & against going into this match the Roosters are still last, but at least they are now within range of other clubs and have given themselves a chance to climb their way off the bottom.
Sydney Roosters 64 Tries: S Kenny-Dowall 3, J Monaghan 2, C Wing, A Roberts, A Tupou, J Williams, S Perrett, S Shackleton. Goals: C Fitzgibbon 9, A Roberts. North Queensland 30 Tries: M Bowen 2, M Bartlett, S Southern, S Tronc. Goals: A Graham 5.
Crowd: 4,186 at Aussie Stadium.
Over the Tasman on Sunday afternoon, the New Zealand Warriors v Melbourne Storm game was notable as a low-scoring slog, a stark contrast to the Roosters v Cowboys match the night before. Tony Martin landed a penalty goal for the Warriors in the 9th minute, and the 2-0 lead was to hold for most of the day. For set after set, the Warriors attacked the Storm line, but even with several players absent on Origin duty the Storm defence held firm. Finally with just a few minutes to go, and against the run of play, Jeremy Smith ran through the only try of the game to give the ladder leaders a narrow victory.
Melbourne 4 Tries: J Smith. NZ Warriors 2 Goals: T Martin.
Crowd: 6,309 at Mt Smart Stadium.
With storms and floods devastating the Hunter region, there was speculation that the Knights home game against the Wests Tigers would be postponed. But the drainage system at Energy Australia Stadium worked magnificently and the game went ahead, with the ground in surprisingly good condition. Despite the problems in the region, over 13,000 turned out to this game; the Knights supporters again putting supporters of the Sydney clubs to shame. But on the field, the Knights’ season of disappointment continued as they went down 33-14 to Wests Tigers. It was locked at 14-all after 52 minutes, but converted tries to Collis, Tuiaki and Fulton put the issue beyond doubt and sees the 2005 premiers climb to 3rd on the ladder.
Wests Tigers 33 Tries: R Farah, C Heighington, D Collis, T Tuiaki, L Fulton. Goals: D Collis 6. Field Goals: R Farah. Newcastle 14 Tries: B Tighe 2, C Paterson. Goals: C Paterson.
Crowd: 13,609 at Energy Australia Stadium.
The round concluded with an exciting southern derby at Oki Jubilee Stadium, with St George-Illawarra hosting Cronulla. After an evenly matched and entertaining first half, the Sharks led 12-10 at half-time. Early in the second half, the match looked to be swinging in the Sharks’ direction after Covell went over for a try from what looked to be a forward pass, and minutes later St George’s Jason Ryles being sent off. But the 12-man Dragons lineup continued to fight, with a converted try to Ben Ellis keeping them in the contest. St George pressed the line, and Chase Stanley could have scored but was denied by the video replay. In the end, the Sharks defended grimly to record a 20-16 victory.
Cronulla 20 Tries: M Brown, D Simmons, L Covell. Goals: L Covell 4. St George-Illawarra 16 Tries: R Williams, B Creagh, B Ellis. Goals:J Soward 2.
Crowd: 12,445 at Oki Jubilee Stadium.
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