Adam Bailey
DeanoHarmoNRL Scoreboard - Round 15
June 26th 2007 15:35
Category: No Category
Friday night saw the NZ Warriors take on Penrith, and from the outset the Warriors made it abundantly clear that this was to be their night. Michael Witt went over in the second minute, and despite a quick reply from Luke Lewis the Warriors were finding gaps everywhere in the Panthers' defence. By half-time it was 36-10 and a blowout. Witt and Wade McKinnon posted doubles in a demolition that sees the Warriors, hopelessly out of form just a couple of weeks ago, now only for & against out of the top 8.
Referee - S Clark. Crowd - 9,978 at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Bulldogs were in the news for all the wrong reasons during the week after the off-field indiscretions of Sonny Bill Williams. But as has been the case so many times before, when their backs have been against the wall, the Bulldogs fought back in the way that they do best, with a solid on-field performance. The highly-fancied Sea Eagles crossed over from the first set of 6 of the game when Anthony Watmough went over, but they were not to achieve another line break for the match. Instead it was a double from Willie Tonga and a sensational try from Corey Hughes that put the Bulldogs in front; and a late try from Nick Kouparitsis and the ever-reliable boot of Hazem El Mazri that ensured the Bulldogs would leave Brookvale with the points.
Referee - T Archer. Crowd - 13.849 at Brookvale Oval.
North Queensland achieved a feat that few have managed in recent seasons when they upset the Canberra Raiders at Bruce Stadium, but their premiership points are in jeopardy after an interchange bungle that saw the Cowboys briefly with 14 players on the field. Neither Justin Smith nor his premature replacement David Faiumu touched the ball during the 30 seconds when an extra player was on; but the Cowboys have had points docked before and must be concerned about the probability of losing points. Earlier, a Matt Bowen double saw the Cowboys hold a 22-14 half-time lead and despite a late comeback from the home side that saw Campese and Milne go over, the visitors had enough in reserve to hold on.
North Queensland 28 Tries - M Bowen 2, B Bowen 2, J Thurston. Goals - J Thurston 4. Canberra 24 Tries - M Chalk 2, T Campese 2, D Milne. Goals - M Dobson 2.
Referee - T De Lasheras. Crowd - 11,263 at Canberra Stadium.
The Roosters' revival of the past couple of weeks came thumping back to earth when Parramatta handed them a harsh reality check at the SFS on Saturday night. It didn't take long for Ben Smith to go over, and from there it was a procession. 22-0 at half-time, and the rot continued in the second half as Jarryd Hayne and Luke Burt completed doubles for Parramatta. The Roosters ran in three second-half tries, but all respectability had been lost during their insipid first-half capitulation.
Parramatta 36 Tries - J Hayne 2, L Burt 2, B Smith, K Inu, N Hindmarsh. Goals - L Burt 4. Sydney Roosters 16 Tries - C Fitzgibbon, S Kenny-Dowall, S Perrett. Goals - C Fitzgibbon 2.
Referee - G Badger. Crowd - 12,211 at Aussie Stadium.
Gold Coast's dream debut season continued as the Titans flew into the top 4 with a 28-22 win over Newcastle in an entertaining match at Carrara on Saturday night. The injury-depleted Knights side were on the back foot from the start when Matthew Petersen crossed in the 4th minute, the first of a hat-trick for the Titan. With the reliable boot of Mat Rogers having an impact, the Knights were never in front; although two late tries to MacDougall and McManus gave the home side a few nervous moments at the end.
Gold Coast 28 Tries - M Petersen 3, M Rogers, B Delaney. Goals - M Rogers 4. Newcastle 22 Tries - L Walsh, D Tolar, A MacDougall, J McManus. Goals - K Gidley 3.
Referee - B Cummins. Crowd - 15,306 at Carrara Stadium.
Morale around the Souths club was greatly boosted during the week with the news that Craig Wing had signed to return to the Rabbitohs in 2008; and the mood brightened even further on Sunday when the Rabbitohs ran out 16-12 winners over Cronulla at Telstra Stadium. The Sharks went over first through Mitch Brown, but replies to Widders, Asotasi, and Merritt opened up a 14-8 half-time lead to Souths. Cronulla's problems with the boot continued with Luke Covell failing to land a conversion. It was a disappointing performance from the Sharks, who are now barely hanging on to a spot in the 8.
South Sydney 16 Tries - D Widders, R Asotasi, N Merritt. Goals - N Merritt 2. Cronulla 12 Tries - M Brown, F Anderson, I dr Gois.
Referee - S Hampstead. Crowd - 9,568 at Telstra Stadium.
Melbourne celebrated the club's 10th season with a commeration match at Olympic Park against St George, the opponent who gave the Storm their finest moment in the 1999 grand final. The 2007 contest however was anything but, with the ladder leaders brushing aside the bottom side with ease. St George-Illawarra were first to score when Beau Scott went over, but once Matt King crossed the line to equalise it became a rout, despite a poor day with the boot from Cameron Smith who could only manage 2 from 7. Steve Turner scored a double in the second half; while Matt Geyer, the only premiership player still at the club, marked the celebration game in style with a 65th minute try.
Melbourne 28 Tries - S Turner 2, M King, C Newton, R Hoffman, M Geyer. Goals - C Smith 2. St George/Illawarra 6 Tries - B Scott. Goals - J Soward.
Referee - P Simpkins. Crowd - 13,545 at Olympic Park.
Brisbane strung consecutive wins together for the first time this season when they completed an easy 48-18 win over Wests Tigers in driving rain at Suncorp Stadium. The Tigers had some luck early when a kick-off rebounded off the goalpost to open up an easy try for Robbie Farah; and his conversion also hit the post and bounced over. But that was as far as the Tigers' luck would run, as the Broncos dominated the flow of play from then on. Karmichael Hunt was in irrepressible form with a hat-trick, while Tonie Carroll not only scored himself but had a hand in most of the other tries in a man-of-the-match performance. For all their disappointment this season, the Broncos are now only one game out of the top 8 and their season is still very much alive.
Brisbane 48 Tries - K Hunt 3, J Hodges 2, D Lockyer, T Carroll, S Berrigan, S Michaels. Goals - C Parker 4, M Ennis 2. Wests Tigers 18 Tries - R Farah, J Morris, C Lawrence. Goals - R Farah 3.
Referee - S Hayne. Crowd - 29,364 at Suncorp Stadium.
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