RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.2
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
Several Canterbury products featured in the second round of the NSWRL’s junior competitions – the SG Ball Cup (under-19s), Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (women’s under-18s).
CANTERBURY PRODUCTS SET TO SHINE IN NSWRL AND QRL JUNIOR COMPS
SG BALL CUP
Linwood’s Chelden Hayward, a Canterbury age-group rep who featured in St Thomas’ NZSST triumph last year, and Hornby forward and 2023 Harold Matthews Cup grand final winner Sosaia Alataini both played pivotal roles as Canterbury Bankstown-Bulldogs’ SG Ball side chalked up its first win of the season.
Winger Hayward scored a try late in the first half and interchange Alatini crossed just after the break after Newcastle Knights had led 16-0 at Cessnock. Alatini then bagged the match-winning try four minutes from fulltime, the Bulldogs prevailing 28-26 in a thriller.
Papanui junior and St Thomas’ star Jason Salalilo was a starting Warriors prop for the second straight week and played his part in a 48-12 demolition of North Sydney Bears at Pukekohe.
Saalilo’s Canterbury 18s teammate, Linwood product Dakota Kakoi, celebrated in another Parramatta Eels victory in the centres, with his side scoring the last three tries in a 28-18 defeat of Cronulla Sharks.
That’s all for Saturday’s action with one match to come in Round Two of the UNE SG Ball Cup 💪
RESULTS: https://t.co/paUDf3mttO#SGBallCup pic.twitter.com/Cnvbtt4jei
— NSW Rugby League (@NSWRL) February 10, 2024
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Halswell stalwart Shannon Rushworth’s Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have stayed unbeaten in their Harold Matthews Cup, holding out Newcastle Knights 24-20 after scoring five tries in the first 29 minutes. Coach Rushworth has Northern Bulldogs mainstay Kyle Reuben as an assistant this season.
The Warriors, who boast a healthy contingent of Canterbury juniors in their Harold Matthews Cup squad, had the bye in Round 2.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Papanui’s Jaydika Tafua again featured in the second-row as Cronulla Sharks went 2-0 in the Tarsha Gale Cup, overwhelming Parramatta Eels 22-6 at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday.
Ex-Canterbury rep, Linwood women’s coach and CRL Development Officer Kylie O’Loughlin is an assistant coach for the Sharks.
Our Tarsha Gale team beat the Eels on Saturday to remain undefeated while our Lisa Fiaola girls were again brave in defeat. Match reports below 📝 https://t.co/MIpT2WjdeI
— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) February 12, 2024
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz
