TEAMS: NSWRL U17 UNE Harold Matthews Cup - 2024 Round 8
4 mins ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Friday night footy kicked off in front of a huge crowd of over 35,000 at Brisbane's old Lang Park. It was a tremendous game of champagne footy and the last hurrah for an injury- ridden Dragons side who out-classed the might of Brisbane. The St George hero was hooker Mark Riddell who barged over for two tries and then slotted a 41 metre penalty goal on the stroke of fulltime, giving the visitors a one point victory over a desperate Broncos side. The result sent the Brisbane camp into despair as they crashed to their seventh successive loss and gave supporters had a nervous two day wait with Parramatta a chance of leap-frogging Brisbane for eighth spot and a finals berth.
Saturday's games saw the Warriors dispose of the Tigers who bowed out offering only minor resistance. While at Toyota Park, the Bulldogs out-muscled a Cronulla side still grappling with the concept of disciplined play.
Meanwhile, the Storm had little trouble over-running an ordinary Sea Eagles outfit who were reduced to 12 men when Albert Torrens administered a classic coat-hanger on Melbourne's Bill Slater. It was another tremendous match for Matt Orford who picked up three Leagueunlimited points to skip well clear on the leaderboard and become the Leagueunlimited.com Player of the Year (see below).
The final day of the final round before the finals started off with the Raiders going down to the Easts in a hard fought match - the Roosters doing what most sides have struggled to do and that is come away form Canberra with a victory.
Sunday couldn't come around quick enough for Broncos fans who nervously kept an eye on the Penrith v Parramatta match - the Eels having to win by 28 points or more to knock Brisbane out of contention. Parra started off with all guns blazing but the mighty Panthers kept their cool and ended up racing away to a convincing victory to claim the 2003 JJ Giltinan Shield and Minor Premiership in front a record Penrith crowd.
Meanwhile, the Knights did enough to send the Cowboys packing in Newcastle, but not before the North Queenslanders looked the goods for much of the match, allowing the visitors to walk from the pitch with their heads held high.
Next week: QUALIFYING FINALS, 12-14 September: Raiders v Storm at Canberra Bulldogs v Warriors at the Showground* Roosters v Knights at Aussie Panthers v Broncos at Penrith *Mondays Expert match of the round
Round 26 results at a glance home team listed first
BRONCOS 25 Tries: Webcke, Carroll, De Vere Goals: De Vere 6/6, Lockyer 1 fg defeated by DRAGONS 26 Tries: Riddell 2,Timmins, Creagh Goals: Riddell 5/5 Friday 5 September 2003 7:30 PM Suncorp Stadium Referee: Tim Mander Video Referee: Eddie Ward Crowd: 35,597 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - M Riddell (Dragons) 2 - M Head (Dragons) 1 - S Webcke (Broncos)
WARRIORS 32 Tries: Toopi 3, Anderson 2, Meli Goals: Webb (4/6) defeated WESTS TIGERS 16 Tries: Mears 2, Wilson Goals: Covell (2/3) Saturday 6 September 2003 5:30PM AEST, 7:30PM NZ Ericsson Stadium Referee: Shayne Hayne Video Referee: Mick Stone Crowd: 20,392 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - C Toopi (Warriors) 2 - B Webb (Warriors) 1 - F Meli (Warriors)
SHARKS 14 Tries: Bailey, Peachey, Friend Goals: Anderson 1/3 defeated by BULLDOGS 28 Tries: Patten, Harris, Hughes, El Masri Goals: El Masri 6/6 Saturday 6 September 2003 7:30 PM Toyota Park Referee: Stephen Clark Video Referee: Chris Ward Crowd: 16,200 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - L Patten (Bulldogs) 2 - D Peachey (Sharks) 1 - B Sherwin (Bulldogs)
STORM 40 Tries: Geyer 2, Moala, King, Bai, Bell, Williams Goals: Orford 4/5, Bai 1/1, Sargent 1/1 defeated SEA EAGLES 10 Tries: MacDougall, Donald Goals: Ferris 1/1, Haumono 0/1 Saturday 6 September 2003 7:30 PM Olympic Park Melbourne Referee: Paul Simpkins Video Referee: Graeme West Crowd: 10,020 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - K Reynoldson (Storm) 2 - M Orford (Storm) 1 - M Geyer (Storm)
RAIDERS 16 Tries: Mogg 2, Lolesi Goals: Schifcofske 2/3 defeated by ROOSTERS 23 Tries: Flannery, Crocker, Wing, Minichello Goals: Walker 2/4, Fitzgibbon 1/1, Fittler 1 FG Sunday 7 September 2003 2:30 PM Canberra Stadium Referee: Bill Harrigan Video Referee: Phil Cooley Crowd: 22,813 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match 3 - A Minichiello (Roosters) 2 - L Ricketson (Roosters) 1 - A Mogg (Raiders)
PANTHERS 40 Tries: Wesser 3, Gower, Swain, Rodney, Rooney Goals: Girdler 6/7 defeated EELS 22 Tries: Moodie, Lyon, Dykes, Hindmarsh Goals: Witt 3/4 Sunday 7 September 2003 3:00 PM Penrith Football Stadium Referee: Sean Hampstead Video Referee: Tim Mander Crowd: 22,304 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - C Gower (Panthers) 2 - R Wesser (Panthers) 1 - S Sattler (Panthers)
KNIGHTS 34 Tries: Buderus 2, K Gidley, Simpson, Rudder, Quinn Goals: Abraham 5/6 defeated COWBOYS 26 Tries: Bowen 2, Sing, Myles Goals: Bowen 5/5 Sunday 7 September 2003 3:00 PM EnergyAustralia Stadium Referee: Steve Lyons Video Referee: Mick Lewis Crowd: 18,244 Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - D Buderus (Knights) 2 - M Bowen (Cowboys) 1 - K Gidley (Knights)