This weekend, our Jersey Flegg and Knock-On Effect NSW Cup sides hosted the Canberra Raiders for Anzac Day at Lidcombe Oval.
It was a successful afternoon for the Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg side, who continued their strong start to the season, while the Western Suburbs Magpies were unable to overcome the visitors from the capital.
Both sides produced strong kicking performances, with Logan Brookes landing seven conversions from eight attempts, along with a penalty goal. Javon Andrews was also perfect with the boot, converting all four attempts in his side’s loss.
Jersey Flegg vs Canberra Raiders: 48-12 win
Second-rower Ethan Roberts stormed through the Raiders defence in the eighth minute, before Riley Oitmann crossed on the right edge shortly after. Both tries were converted by Logan Brookes, who also added a 23rd-minute penalty goal to give the Tigers a 14-12 lead at halftime.
The second half began strongly, with Sione Lolohea scoring within the opening two minutes, touching down just to the right of the posts.
Christian Taupau-Moors extended the lead with a try in the 49th minute off a Jared Haywood assist, before Xavier Tauaifaiga crossed five minutes later. Brookes converted both, pushing the Tigers out to a 32-12 advantage.
The Tigers defence held strong throughout the second half, not allowing for the Raiders to score at any point.
In the 63rd minute, Lenny Plati powered through two Raiders defenders to score, with Brookes again adding the extras to make it 38-12.
Tauaifaiga crossed on the left edge for his second try of the day, bringing up the sides fortieth point.
Maxwell Taotua capped off the scoring for the Tigers, sealing a dominant 48-12 victory, with 34 of those points coming in the second half.
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup vs Canberra Raiders: 44-24 loss
The Raiders opened the scoring in the fifth minute before the Magpies responded through a ninth minute try from Fiohiva Fainga’a on the left edge.
Latu Fainu helped extend the Magpies lead, spotting a gap in the Raiders defence and powering over near the posts. Andrews converted to give the home side a 12-6 advantage.
However, three unanswered tries from the Raiders before halftime saw the visitors take a 24-12 lead into the break.
The Raiders added another try early in the second half to extend their lead further.
The Magpies hit back in the 55th minute, with Fainga’a grabbing his second try of the afternoon. Andrews converted to reduce the deficit to 30-18 with under 25 minutes remaining.
Two more Raiders tries pushed the result out of reach at 40-18. A late converted try to Heath Mason on the left edge wasn’t enough to spark a comeback, with the match finishing 44-24.
