Junior Representative Preview Round ThreeRound Two was billed as an exciting round of games and it didn’t disappoint as it had it all with several close games and also some explosive efforts that kept the score board attendants on their toes at various grounds.
Perhaps the most impressive of the SG Ball winners was the Balmain Tigers who are now one of five sides that remain unbeaten following their big win against the Roosters while the Knights registered their first win of the season with a ten point victory against the Eels in Sydney.
In the Harold Matthews Cup, the Panthers took no prisoners as they ran in 60 unanswered points against the SWSAS side while the Centurions made it two from two in a very encouraging start to the year as they defeated the Bears 26-4.
But we are here to look forwards, not backwards, so let’s check out this weekend’s clashes…
Harold Matthews CupIn a fixture that will see first hosting second, the Penrith Panthers will welcome the St George Dragons to St Mary’s Leagues Stadium as both sides look to remain unbeaten. The Dragons boys should be the fresher of the two having had the luxury of the bye following a first up win against the SWSAS while the Panthers will be at home for the third straight week and will look to capitalize on the home cooking while they can. Matt Dufty scored four tries for the Dragons in Round One and will need to be watched here while Jake Ennis is one to keep an eye on for the Panthers after he recently returned from representing the NSW Indigenous U/16 side in which he scored a try in their 16-16 draw against QLD on the Gold Coast.
In another clash that sees two top four sides butting heads, the third placed Centurions will welcome the fourth placed Tigers to town as they lock horns at Woy Woy Oval. The Centurions have started the season brightly in 2012 with good wins against Cronulla and Norths respectively while the Tigers have accounted for both the Western Sydney Academy and Sydney Roosters. The Tigers were ruthless last Saturday as they posted a point a minute against the chooks while the Centurions were clinical at TG Milner. Junior Tatola scored four tries during the Tigers romp last week while Connor Watson is one to watch for the Centurions.
Other clashes see the battle of the steel cities as Newcastle host Illawarra while down in the nation’s capital the Raiders will seek their first win of the year against the Bunnies. At TG Milner the Bears tackle SWSAS, down at Brooky the Sea Eagles host the Roosters while back out west the WSA host a western derby as the Bulldogs travel to St Mary’s Leagues Stadium.
Rounding things out in the Harold Matthews Cup will be the Eels up against the Magpies at New Era Stadium.
SG Ball CupWhile their Harold Matthews side hasn’t quite hit the ground running in 2012, the same can’t be said for the Cronulla SG Ball side. The Sharks sit third on the ladder following wins against the Centurions and WSA. Some may ultimately question the strength of these victories but one has to be impressed with the way they went about it, particularly their professional 34-0 last weekend. But they will certainly be tested against the Reds as they face the daunting trip to the west coast. The Reds would not be overly happy with the start to their 2012 campaign but historically they are a far tougher proposition at home than they are away and the Sharks will need to be at or near their best if they want to return home with the competition points.
The Manly Sea Eagles are another side that has looked the goods early on in the 2012 season with solid wins away from home against both the Canberra Raiders and Western Suburbs Magpies. Clinton Gutherson is currently the competitions leading point scorer while Fabian Natoli has scored in each of their opening matches and will need to be marked closely. The Roosters had a good first up win back in Round One but were brought back to earth last weekend by the Tigers. Taane Milne is a powerful centre and looms as potentially the Sea Eagles biggest threat to not claiming the points here.
In other SG Ball Cup games, the Panthers take on the Dragons, the Bears host the Storm, Canberra take on South Sydney and the Knights joust with the Steelers.
Rounding things out will be the Centurions hosting the Tigers, WSA tackling the Bulldogs and last but not least the Eels taking on the Magpies.
Source: NSWRL
Topic: Junior Representative Preview Round Three
