Collegians have maintained their early season winning streak by defeating De La Salle 20-16 in a Harrigan Cup thriller at Captain Cook Oval on Saturday.
In their first home game of the season, Thirroul picked up their first win, defeating Dapto 32-24, while Wests beat Corrimal 54-10 at Ziems Park.
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Collegians remain undefeated three rounds into their 2025 Harrigan Cup campaign. Despite facing some injury concerns going into the match, they came away from their trip to the Shire with a four-point win, two penalty goals from their No. 7 Blair Grant proving the difference as both teams scored three tries each.
It was De La who hit the ground running, five-eighth Cody Fuz converting his own try to give the hosts a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Collegians bounced back with two converted tries, Blake Dowell crashing over beside the posts before a leaping Sam McCann latched onto a Zac Herring cross-field kick to score in the corner, for a 12-6 lead at the break.
[Watch] Collegians winger Sam McCann leaps above the defence to catch a Zac Herring cross-field kick to score
Ten minutes into the second stanza Grant extended the lead to eight with a penalty goal in front of the sticks. With McCann picking up his second try of the afternoon, on the end of a well worked play on the left edge, the visitors went further ahead 18-6 in the 52nd minute.
De La struck back with a try against the run of play to bring themselves back into the game at 18-12 with 20 minutes to play.
Collies looked to have the game under control edging ahead 20-12 with another Grant penalty but De La were still in the fight, centre Eparama Navale reducing the margin to four with his side’s third try, ensuring a nail-biting finish.
Butchers open account
After consecutive losses to De La Salle and Wests, Thirroul got their first win of the season scoring six tries to four against Dapto.
Playing on home soil for the first time this season, the Butchers established a handy 22-6 lead at halftime with tries to Zane Bijorac, Jaymon Tiata, Nelson Sharp and Dane Courtney after Jackson Rieck had scored Dapto’s lone first half try in the 8th minute.
Shortly after the break, a double to Dapto captain Tom Freebairn of the boot of Rieck brought his side back into the contest at 22-18 with 30 minutes remaining. Ten minutes later, Letham Manago crashed over for a converted try to extend the Butchers lead by 10.
A try by Josh Daley in the 65th minute brought Dapto back into the game, narrowing the margin to 28-24. Sharp then crossed out wide for his second try, securing a hard-fought victory in the final moments.
At Ziems Park, Wests handed Corrimal their third straight loss of the season defeating the Cougars 54 – 10.
Devils second-rower Phoenix Vetenibua – Finnerty scored four tries and Colby Pellow picked up a hat-trick in the 11 tries to two victory.
The Lower Grades
The Cougars undefeated run in Harrigan Plate came to an end at the hands of Helensburgh, losing 16-10, while Dapto defeated Thirroul 18-14. Avondale Wombats scored 10 tries to one in their impressive win over Collegians. Benjamin De La Fosse scored two tries and six conversions in his side’s 52-4 victory.
In Harrigan Shield action, Wests scraped home 28-26 over the Cougars, while Norths claimed a 14-10 win over the Wombats. the Avondale Greyhounds scored 20 unanswered points against Berkeley Eagles, and Figtree got the points in a shut-out, winning 12-0 over Windang.