Harold Matthews
by Michelle Boon
The Balmain Tigers recorded their first victory of the season, overcoming a tenacious Illawarra Steelers outfit 20-12 at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
The Tigers were first to score after 4 minutes when centre Tim Bennetts crossed out wide after second phase play saw him break through a tackle using a great fend, putting him in the clear with 15m left to run. Five eighth Junior Goddard didn’t convert and they led 4-0.
7 minutes later centre Cameron Mitchell scored out wide after a 40/20 scrum win from halfback Ben James allowed them to spread it across a deep backline and use an overlap to perfection. Replacement Mitchell Bergin didn’t convert and the score was 8-0.
With 11 minutes to go fullback Junior Rogica crossed out wide after they spotted an overlap out wide & Mitchell split the gap on the last tackle before offloading to Rogica on the inside who crashed over. Goddard converted to put them further ahead 14-0.
Illawarra ended the half with a terrific try from a scrum on halfway which they converted to go into half time 14-6.
They put themselves right back in the match scoring early in the second half to take the score to 14-12.
For the next 20 minutes the Steelers were camped inside the Tigers’ 20m zone & had a number of chances to take the lead, but a combination of poor finishing & superb tryline defence from the young Tigers saw raid after raid repelled with no change to the scoreline.
The Tigers finally wrapped up the match when front rower Aaron Woods crashed over out wide after great lead-up work from Bergin & replacement Liam Monroe got them to the 10m zone & he proved too strong to stop from near the line. Goddard converted and at full time the Tigers were victorious 20-12.
It was pure determination that sealed the 2 points for the Tigers after a terrific defensive effort in the second half that left the Steelers frustrated & impatient with no result from their attacks on the line. They now find themselves in the top 8. Best players were second rower Nathan Drayton, along with centres Tim Bennetts & Cameron Mitchell.
S.G. BALL
by Michelle Boon
The Tigers continued on their winning way, outclassing the Illawarra Steelers 30-4 at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
Five eighth Dane Gernhoefer opened the scoring after they took advantage of a Steelers’ handling error 13 minutes into the match, spreading the ball wide where second rower Ahmid Omar drew the defence in allowing Gernhoefer to plunge over from dummy half on the next ruck. He couldn’t convert and the score was 4-0.
Winger Scott Goodsir scored soon after when he spotted a gap from dummy half & scooted over out wide. Gernhoefer converted and they led 10-0.
The Steelers replied with 12 minutes to go crossing over from near the line to take the score to 10-4.
A few minutes later halfback Rhys Jack scored out wide after Omar was held up over the line and on the next ruck they spread it across the backline where he spotted a huge hole & sliced through to score. Gernhoefer’s conversion put them further ahead 16-4 at half time.
The Tigers resumed their attack early in the second half, with Goodsir crossing again in the corner using an overlap created by Steelers’ injuries in backplay to good effect. Gernhoefer didn’t convert and the score was 20-4.
With 13 minutes to go replacement Chris Scuglia crossed in the corner after centre Brendan Train made huge metres off the back of a scrum 30m out from the Steelers’ line and they spread it wide where the defence was thin allowing Scuglia to slide over. Gernhoefer didn’t convert and they went further ahead 24-4.
With 7 minutes to go fullback Matt Ryan scored near the post after centre Mitchell Achurch worked a brilliant set move from 10m out for Ryan to run a terrific angle straight into the gap and go over untouched. Gernhoefer’s conversion took them out to 30-4 and this was the result at full time.
Although they started a bit shakily the Tigers soon found their rhythm of last week and while it wasn’t as comprehensive as last week, they were always in control and it was just a question of how far. The win keeps them at the top of the competition table with a big percentage points lead over the remaining teams. Best players were fullback Matt Ryan, second rower Ahmid Omar, front rower John Kaifoto and halfback Rhys Jack.
Next weekend the Tigers have the bye before facing up to the mighty Parramatta Eels at Leichhardt Oval the following weekend in a true test of form.
