The Sydney Roosters have sealed their first minor premiership with an 18-16 victory over the Newcastle Knights in a see-sawing affair that saw both sides having to come from behind.
It was a fast start for the Roosters who scored in the opening three minutes when Jasmine Strange scored on debut down the left after a break through the middle two plays prior. The Roosters put on their second try just four minutes later when Raecene McGregor split the Knights defence and put Kalosipani Hopoate through for her maiden try. Zahara Temara's conversion put the Roosters up 10-0.
A penalty goal on the stroke of half time extended the Roosters lead out to 12-0 at the break.
Errors came back to bite the Roosters in the second half when Romy Teitzel was able to pluck a Jesse Southwell kick out of the air and get her way to the line and putting the ball on the line. The conversion was missed and the Knights still trailed by 8.
Only a matter of minutes later, Yasmin Clydsdale was able to get one back on her old side after a good ball put her into space after the Roosters defence were caught in two minds on what to do. Jesse Southwell closed the gap to two points with the conversion.
Newcastle had all the momentum and then looked to have what was going to be a match winner when the Knights took advantage of the Roosters defence being unable to shut down Southwell who found Caitlan Johnston to stroll through to score. The conversion put the Knights into the lead by four points.
It was a lost ball from the Knights that ended their afternoon when looking to spread the ball, Romy Teitzel dropped the ball right in front of Isabelle Kelly who swooped and raced away 70m untouched to score the match winning try. The Roosters lead by 2 after Zahara Temara's conversion.
A missed penalty goal gave the Knights one play after the siren to try and go 100m but it wasn't to be and the Roosters held onto the 18-16 victory.
Next weekend, both sides head to Gosford as the Roosters have a match against the Titans whilst the Knights take on the Dragons.