Collegians have extended their lead to six points at the top of the Harrigan Cup table after a comprehensive 34-16 win over second-placed Wests. De La Salle and Dapto also consolidated their positions in the top four with Round 11 victories, De La Salle snatching a late 17-16 win over Thirroul with a late field goal in a dramatic come-from-behind effort. Elswehere, the Canaries did all their damage early, racing to a 26-6 lead at the main break before closing out a 32-12 victory over Corrimal.
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De La Salle vs Thirroul Butchers
A last-minute field goal from five-eighth Cody Fuz sealed a dramatic 17–16 win for De La Salle over the Thirroul Butchers in a tightly contested Harrigan Cup clash at Captain Cook Oval.
The match went down to the wire with the hosts scoring two unanswered tries in the second half to gain the momentum after trailing 14-6 at the break.
Thirroul opened the scoring through halfback Aaymon Fitzgibbon, who converted his own try before winger Wayne Bremner ran the length on a kick-return. Fitzgibbon added the extras for a 12–0 lead.
De La Salle hit back midway through the first half after a perfectly weighted grubber from half Jack Williams landed in Tyla Tamou’s hands, racing in for their opening try, converted by Tyrell Lafituanai.
A Fitzgibbon penalty goal on the half-hour mark sent the visitors into the break with an eight-point lead.
Two unanswered tries from the hosts turned the game around in the second half.
Williams, a late inclusion returning from injury, found space in the Butchers defence to score a converted try before Joshua Latham put interchange forward Rory Brownlie over in the corner, giving DeSalle a two-point lead on the hour mark.
A long-range penalty goal from Fitzgibbon in the 77th minute levelled the scores at 16–16 and set up a tense finish.
But it was De La Salle’s Cody Fuz who stepped up in the final minutes to calmly slot a field goal and secure victory.
[Watch] De La Salle’s Cody Fuz calmly slots a field goal to secure victory in the dying minutes.
Collegians vs Wests
Collegians have extended their strong Harrigan Cup form with a commanding 34–16 win over the Western Suburbs Devils at home, outscoring the visitors six tries to three, including a second-half brace to winger Tex Anderson in the come-from-behind victory.
Despite a close first half, Collegians’ composure and execution saw them pull away late in the match after trailing 10-0 early, led by a standout effort from halfback Damon New, who kicked five goals and steered his side around the park.
The Devils opened the scoring early with a fifth-minute try from five-eighth Justin Rodrigues, followed by a powerful barge over from prop Tepai Moeroa in the 27th minute.
Collegians responded through centre James Lee in the 35th minute, taking his tally to 13 for the season, and giving his side some momentum going into halftime.
Collies took command in the second stanza, second-rower Charly Runciman crossing shortly after the break, followed by strong finishes from back-rower Duke Grant, Anderson’s double, and five-eighth Zach Herring in the final minute.
Wests Phoenix Vetenibua-Finnerty scored a late consolation try in the 77th minute.
Collegians’ conversions came courtesy of Damon New, missing just one attempt. For the Devils, halfback Dane Chisholm converted two from three attempts.
[Watch] Collies winger Tex Anderson shows a clean pairs of heels on the way to the first of his two tries.
Dapto vs Corrimal
Dapto Canaries powered to a 32–12 victory over the Corrimal Cougars in Round 10 of the Harrigan Cup, producing a dominant attacking performance in the opening 40 minutes.
The Canaries crossed for six tries, with fullback Kieren Moss opening the scoring in just the third minute. Winger Jason Gillard was a standout, bagging a double, while centre Christopher Ravarua, interchange forward Jake Kamire, and hooker Josh Daley (pictured) also found the tryline.
Dapto’s halves pairing of captain Troy Pieper and Harrison Chater orchestrated play well, with Pieper also kicking four conversions.
Corrimal showed only flashes of promise, fullback Tom Carr scoring off a neat pass from skipper Kamren Cryer in the 17th minute.
Trailing 26–6 at halftime, the Cougars showed some fight in the second half, prop Daniel Morris bringing his side back into the contest with a converted try Cryer.
Second-rowers Matt Payne and Tom Grant worked hard defensively. Hooker Brody Rigg also put in a tireless effort, but the Cougars struggled at times to contain Dapto’s ball movement through the middle, with strong carries from props Callum Leikvoll and Jayden Foye setting their platform.
The victory consolidates Dapto’s position in the top four, while Corrimal will have a fight on their hands with Thirroul for the remaining spot in the top five with four rounds remaining.
[Watch] Dapto fullback Keiran Moss backs up on the inside to score his team’s first try.
Words | Angelina Raula