Brydens Lawyers Wests Tigers Academy have continued their strong form with a 24-4 victory over St. George-Illawarra Dragons High Performance Unit.
Played at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, the match featured players aged both 16 and 17, with Wests Tigers’ Academy team made up of players who had played either SG Ball or Harold Matthews for Balmain or Western Suburbs in 2014.
Daniel Roberts got the scoring underway for Wests Tigers Academy in just the third minute of play after he burst through a few tackles close to the line.
That effort was quickly followed up by another try to the home team after seven minutes, with Justice Utatao reacting quickest to a grubber from Ryan Papenhuyzen to plant the ball down just inside the dead-ball line for his seventh try in his past four games.
A sharp break down the right wing saw a great sweeping play finished off by Angelo Panambalana in the corner to push the lead to 12-0 after 28 minutes.
Papenhuyzen turned provider again just before half-time, as he broke down the right wing before linking back up on the inside with Roberts. The halfback raced away to score his second try of the night and give the Academy a 16-0 lead heading into half-time.
Wests Tigers continued to threaten in attack and soon crossed the line after the interval, with TJ Uele barging over close to the line in the 33rd minute for a 20-0 lead.
However, the Dragons would quickly hit back through winger Daniel Stojanovski, who crossed out wide to reduce the margin to 20-4 after 38 minutes.
Ryan Lett dived over from dummy half as time expired to give Brydens Laywers one more try, with his effort pushing the score out to 24-4 lead as time expired.
Final Score — Brydens Lawyers Wests Tigers Academy 24 defeated St. George-Illawarra Dragons High Performance Unit 4