Dog Dynasty: Canterbury one step away from NSWRL dominance as Panthers stumble

The Canterbury Bulldogs could have a number of reasons to celebrate next week after qualifying for the NSWRL’s Grand Final weekend in three separate competitions. 

The Berries will contest the Harold Matthews, Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership and Tarsha Gale Cup deciders at Leichhardt Oval on April 29 after a numbe of impressive performances in the preliminary contests. 

It was a disappointing end for Penrith in both the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions. After securing a top-two regular season finish in both and enjoying a break during the first week of the finals, both teams were beaten one game shy of a grand final appearance. They were beaten by the Knights in a tight contest in SG Ball where goal-kicking proved the difference, while in the Harold Matts they trailed by just two at the break but had no answer for the Bulldogs in the second half.

NSWRL FINALS

SG BALL

NEWCASTLE 10 (F Sharpe, K McCarthy tries; E Ferguson goal) D. PENRITH 8 (D Afu, N Murphy tries). 
PARRAMATTA 14 (M Arthur, D Vaivela, T Twidle tries; E Sanders goal) D. CANBERRA 6 (T Matiota try; S Gash goal). 

HAROLD MATTS

CANTERBURY 30 (S Alatini 2, I Seve, H Fua, D Christodoulou tries; B Reuben 3, M Woods 2 goals) D. PENRITH 16 (K Raven, T Patea, C McLean tries; H Wald 2 goals).
NEWCASTLE 18 (H Loza 2, C Votano tries; Votano 3 goals) D. PARRAMATTA 16 (J Uta, L Vella, D Farrugia tries; Farrugia 2 goals). 

TARSHA GALE

CANTERBURY 28 (C Eather 2, T Finau, E Raftstrand-Smith, S Mahoni, A Aros tries; Finau 2 goals) D. ILLAWARRA 0. 
SYDNEY INDIGENOUS ACADEMY 40 (B Talataina 2, L Montgomery, M Barber, E Lopamaua, I Haumono, T Papalii tries; Barber 6 goals) D. NEWCASTLE 4 (T West try).

WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP

MOUNTIES 18 (S Naitokatoka, H Hifo, J Bent tries; M Power 3 goals) D. NORTH SYDNEY 16 (R Horne 2, R McGregor tries; K Dibb 2 goals). 
CANTERBURY 16 (M Soliola 2, S Oliver tries; T Preston goal) D. ILLAWARRA 8 (S Tungai, O Vale tries).

RON MASSEY CUP

GLEBE and St Marys have extended their gap atop the Ron Massey Cup ladder, with four points separating the outright leaders from the rest of the pack after six rounds. 

St Marys secured victory over the winless Bulldogs, but they were made to work for it. The Saints were led by five-eighth Todd Sapienza, who scored a double and kicked four goals. 

Glebe were also made to fight against a determined Brothers outfit, with star centre Devon Makoare-Boyce extending his lead atop the point-scoring charts thanks to a 14-point haul. 

After flying high early in the competition, Ryde-Eastwood are on a three-game slide that has seen them plummet outside the top four following their most recent defeat to Wentworthville. They’ll have a good chance to stop the rot against the Silktails next week. 

WENTWORTHVILLE 16 (J Delailoa, T Arona, N Walker tries; D Smith 2 goals) D. RYDE-EASTWOOD 6 (C Wilson try; T Cassel goal). 

ST MARYS 34 (T Sapienza 2, T Satini, D Fale tries*; Sapienza 4 goals*) D. CANTERBURY 20 (T Johanssen, C Laiman, K Weatherall-Stacey, D Corcoran tries; M Aumua, Weatherall-Stacey goals).

GLEBE 30 (D Makoare-Boyce 2, M Pearsall, G Sukanaivalu, T Ranuku Phillips tries; Makoare-Boyce 5 goals) D. PENRITH BROTHERS 22 (R Holani, M Pokia, R Garner tries; I Tagaloamatua 2 goals). 

HILLS BULLS 30 (S Garner, T Masima, L Aldridge, T Lasalo, K Hayman tries; B Keighran 5 goals) D. MOUNTIES 18 (J Olive, R Ioelu, M Lewin tries; Ioelu 3 goals).

SYDNEY SHIELD

It might have seemed a foregone conclusion before kick-off, but St Marys were forced to do things the hard way against last-placed Moorebank, who showed plenty of resilience to take the leaders all the way in a heartbreaking two-point defeat. 

High-flying Brothers had an easier time against Glebe, securing a big win behind a hat-trick to Baley Borthwick. 

Mounties are still rooted to the foot of the Shield table after another narrow defeat, but Mulga winger Thomas Menzies still sits atop the try-scoring charts for the competition despite not getting on the board against the Bulls. 

They’ll have their best chance yet to move out of the cellar when they take on Moorebank next week. 

WENTWORTHVILLE 40 (R Alderton 2, L Davidson, J Jana, I Iaqekoro, J Hey, R Maroun tries; J Katrib 3, Hey 2, O Scott goals) D. RYDE-EASTWOOD 26 (R Curtis 2, K Patton, J Delle, S Masri tries; 3 goals*) 

ST MARYS 32 (R Nadurutalo 2, F Pupu, C Te Atua, M Dut, Z Greene tries; Greene 2, K Farr 2 goals) D. MOOREBANK 30 (D Mohammed 2, J Oloaga 2, J McGrath 2 tries; L Starr 2, J Saldaneri goals). 

PENRITH BROTHERS 38 (B Borthwick 3, D Kammel, B Donovan, J Ma’u, K Chan, T Pettit-Young tries; Borthwick 3 goals) D. GLEBE 12 (P Kepaoa, S Malu tries; J Tautaiolefua 2 goals).

HILLS BULLS 20 (D Baumann, D Marshall, D Smith, I Gorman tries; J Griffin 2 goals) D. MOUNTIES 16 (A Bosnali, A Davis-Pihema, K Laula tries; Davis-Pihema 2 goals).