The Illawarra Steelers inaugural NSW Women’s premiership campaign continues to build momentum, Alicia-Kate Hawke’s side peeling off its third victory in a row with a 16-10 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday.
The Steelers led 6-0 at halftime through a Zali Yeo four-pointer, before the Dogs struck back early in the second stanza.
Tries to Fullback Emma Tonegato and prop Rose Tafengatoto put the Steelers in front 16-6 with 20 minutes remaining. The Dogs scored again in the 62nd minute but the Steelers were able to hold on for the two competition points. The victory sees the Steelers sit atop the HNWP competition ladder, two points clear of their nearest rivals.
Watch Video >>HNWP Tries
Also against the Dogs, the U17 girls kicked off their Lisa Fiaola Cup campaign with a 30-10 victory, while the Steelers Tarsha Gale U19s were out-gunned 34-0.
[Watch Video – SG Ball and Harold Matts] >>Tries of the week
Harold Matts go down in thriller
Leading 28-18 with less than five minutes remaining the Steelers were unable to hold out a fast-finishing Tigers outfit in their Round Six clash at Collegians Sporting Complex on Saturday.
Tigers prop Douglas Tuala crashed over for a converted try in the 56th minute before his halfback Alex Conti repeated the dose minutes later scoring off his own grubber kick, beating Steelers five-eight Aaymon Fitzgibbon in a race to the ball. Conti’s conversion handed a heart-breaking two point defeat to Aaron McDonald’s side.
Pring scores double in SG Ball win
Russ Aitken’s SG Ball side posted a confidence-boosting 54-4 win over the Tigers, scoring 10 tries to the visitors’ solo try.
Steelers fullback Wes Pring scored two tries and had a hand in many others as the Steelers kept their finals hopes alive.
“We just held the ball and completed well. Then we could just push up and roll through them,” Pring said.
“We’ve got a chance here (for finals). If we just keep on doing what we did today the results will come.”