Souths Juniors Round 5 Jersey Flegg
and Premier League Match Reports

Round 5 Premier League Match Report

The Souths Juniors team travelled up to Central Coast Stadium, Gosford where they hosted the Newcastle Knights. It was the Knights who opened up the scoring after 9 minutes after a mistake inside our own quarter and they were quick to pounce.

The Knights once again found open spaces from the ensuing kick off and extended their lead further. Our boys hung in there and were impressive in their defensive efforts at times. It was when we dropped a towering bomb on our try line the knights really gained the upper hand in the match and took an 18 points to nil lead.

In the lead up to the half time break a smart blind side play saw Trent Young put Aaron Aitken over for our first try of the match. Our boys put in a much improved second half which saw Ray Moujalli show great strength in scoring his try and Mick Moran skipping his way over the try line after some good lead up work by Chris Enahoro.

Ray Moujalli was given the Players Player award for the match and was very deserving of this award considering his constant strong surges and his reliable and strong defence.

The team ended up being defeated by 36 points ? 16 and with a number of players returning over the next few weeks the team will certainly be bolstered by the return of these players. The team?s next challenge is against the St. Mary?s/Penrith Cougars on Saturday 16th April at Aussie Stadium, kick off 3pm. The game will be played as a curtain raiser to the South Sydney and Penrith Panthers NRL Fixture.

Newcastle 36 (S Witt 2, B Tremain-Cannon, D Spiteri, M White, M Bartlett tries D Campbell 6 goals) defeated Souths Juniors 16 (M Moran, R Moujalli, A Aitken tries M Riddle 2 goals)

Round 5 Jersey Flegg Match Report

The Souths Juniors Jersey Flegg team also played their home game at Central Coast Stadium and took on the Newcastle Knights. The Knights took an early advantage scoring after two minutes after a charge down gave them back to back sets. In the first five minutes of the match we did not touch the ball once which was a credit to our defence namely Aaron Firman and Dave Ryman up front. Michael Woodlands also saved a try tackling his opposite Knights number touch in goal when he looked certain to score in the corner.

We were the next team to score after 18 minutes through Dave Ryman who showed great strength to get through a number of knights defenders before crashing his way over the line under the posts. After a successful Rhys Hanbury conversion scores were locked up at 6 all. A one on one missed tackle some four minutes later saw the Knights race the length of the field to score. The knights lead by 10 points to 6.

We could not complete our sets and kept turning the ball over to the Knights on early tackles. The next 8 minutes our defence was tested and we some how managed to keep the Knights out. A Penalty on our try line saw the Knights take a kick at Penalty Goal, it was successful and they extended their lead to 12 points ? 6. Another dropped ball once again gave the knights the ball in a good attacking position and this time they did take advantage and crossed for a try on the stroke of the half time bell. The boys went into the half time break down by 18 points ? 6.

Both sides started the second half with strong defence in what was already a very physical encounter. As Newcastle were attacking a knock on missed by the referee and touch judges proved critical as they scored from that play and extended their lead by 24 points ? 6.

A length of the field try went begging as Rhys Hanbury was cut down just short of the Knights try line. Another one on one missed tackle saw the Knights score another try of the afternoon. We were denied another try when we were tackled touch in goal. We did however score a consolation try through Richard Williams after some good lead up work by most of the team.

David Ryman was outstanding up front, offloaded some great balls and got through a mountain of defensive work and was a worthy recipient of the players? player award , Joe Falemaka made some great surges up the middle of the field and did his fare share of defensive work also, Aaron Firman made some very big hits in defence and was a tireless worker for the team, Mick Goward serviced the team well out of dummy half and made some good runs, Isaac Tautaiolefua showed his pace out wide and battled through the game with injury and was great for the team.

Newcastle 30 ( A Hartmann, J McManus, S Gordon, D Bates, L Tafua tries T S Dureau 5 goals) defeated Souths Juniors 10 (D Ryman, R Williams tries R Hanbury goal)

The team takes on the Penrith Panthers on Friday evening at Redfern Oval with kick off being at 7.30pm. An under 21?s challenge match will take place as the curtain raiser with kick off for that match being at 6pm. For all results, draws, match reports and other information on the Premier League and Jersey Flegg Teams visit our website www.leaguenet.com.au (follow the links to the South Sydney Junior Rugby League)

Cameron O?Riordan