NSWRL Scores: Saints put best foot forward in season openers

The NSWRL's lower grade competitions - the Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield - both kicked off this week, with St Marys and Ryde-Eastwood enjoying big first-up wins in both competitions. The Saints made light work of former powerhouse Mounties in both competitions, while the Hawks got the better of the Bulldogs in the Ron Massey Cup and also beat the Moorebank Rams in the Sydney Shield.

It's a promising start in the Shield for the Saints, who are looking to defend their title after beating Brothers in last year's decider. Meanwhile last year's Ron Massey Cup premiers - the Hills Bulls - started the year with a bye. Their title defence kicks off next Sunday with a trip to the in-form Saints.

RON MASSEY CUP RESULTS: ROUND 1

ST MARYS 36 (T Sapienza 2, S Tavita, S Radovu, A Pelesasa tries; J Rafferty-Butfield 6 goals*) D. MOUNTIES 14 (L Mulitalo, E Aiono, J Hughes tries; Hughes goal).

RYDE-EASTWOOD 40 (J WRight, C WIlson, A Rizk, B Cousins tries; T Cassel 5 goals*) D. CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN 10 (D Ludwick 2, J Roumanous goal). 

PENRITH BROTHERS 17 (J Tramontana, D Tonise, E Taufa tries; I Tagaloamatua goal, Tagaloamatua field goal) D. KAIVITI SILKTAILS 16 (O Natoga try*, T Seru 2 goals).

GLEBE 26 (E Rogers-Smith, D Makoare-Boyce, L Afeaki, J Ngaronoa, J Tufua tries; Makoare-Boyce 3 goals) D. WENTWORTHVILLE 18 (D Smith 2 tries*; L O’Brien 3 goals).

HILLS BULLS (Bye)

*Not all try-scorers named due to incomplete team lists. 

SYDNEY SHIELD RESULTS: ROUND 1

RYDE-EASTWOOD 28 (T Peni 2, T Ball, L Nasio, M Townsend tries; 4 goals) D. MOOREBANK 10 (2 tries*, goal)

CABRAMATTA 28 (L Muagututia 2, H Wong, C Daniels, D Tui tries; D McKeever-King 3 goals, Daniels goal) D. PENRITH BROTHERS 14 (H Attwater, R Holani, J Alofi tries; B Borthwick goal). 

GLEBE 30 (K Manu, D Manu, K Donkin, J Tautaiolefua, J Cullen tries; Tautaiolefua 5 goals) D. WENTWORTHVILLE 20 (I Laqekoro, J Boumelhem, L Puru tries; L Habkouk 2 goals*)

ST MARYS 40 (R Stokes 3, K Farr, S Sub-Laban, C Te Atua, H Togise tries; M Fidow 6 goals) D. MOUNTIES 12 (D Soakai, M El Masri tries; K Savage 2 goals). 

HILLS BULLS (Bye)

*Not all try-scorers named due to incomplete team lists.