It was a great start to round eight for the Steelers, with the Tarsha Gale and Lisa Fiaola Cup girls getting big wins over the Panthers on Saturday at St Marys to secure first and second place on their respective competition ladders with one round remaining before the finals.
However, things turned sour on Sunday, with the U17 & U19 boys losing to the Bulldogs. While the Harold Matthews Cup side was already out of finals contention, a second consecutive loss for Shaun Timmins’ SG Ball side leaves them with a must-win game against the North Sydney Bears at home next week to make the finals.
The Weekend Wrap, brought to you by Harrigan Motor Group
The Tarsha Gale Steelers cemented their spot in the finals with a 62-0 win over the Panthers, with Darcy Eade scoring a hat trick of tries. Rhian Yeo, Evie McGrath, and Sienna Leslie all scored twice to hold down the all-important top spot on the ladder with one round remaining.
In Lisa Fiaola Cup action, the Steelers jumped out of the blocks, scoring four tries within the first 20 minutes, with tries to Halle Barrett and Michala Hardy and a double to skipper Tahlia O’Brien. Barrett and Hardy picked up their second try of the half for a 30-6 lead at the break, a scoreline that would remain throughout the second stanza.
The Harold Matthews Cup side was never in the hunt after the hosts scored five tries in the first half for a 28-0 lead. The Bulldogs continued in the same fashion in the second stanza, scoring another four tries to a solitary four-pointer from Steelers forward Leeroy Weatherall in the 52-6 defeat.
An injury-depleted SG Ball Steelers were no match for the Bulldogs in the U19s, with the hosts racing out to a 28-0 lead at the break. The Steelers hit back early in the second half with tries to captain Daniel Meafou and Jarrah Treweek, reducing the margin to 28-10. The two sides traded tries before the Dogs posted two unanswered tries in their 46-16 win.
Round 9 Fixtures | Saturday, 30 March – Collegians Sporting Complex
- 1030am – Lisa Fiaola Cup – Steelers (2) v Sharks (8)
- 1200pm – Tarsha Gale Cup – Steelers (1) v Sharks (6)
- 1.30pm – Harold Matthews Cup – Steelers (14) v Bears (16)
- 3pm – SG Ball Cup – Steelers (6) v Bears (15)
