Three Wins from Four Headline Round Two of Junior Reps Seasons

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have secured six competition points from a possible eight in the four matches of the NSWRL Junior Representative round two matches played this weekend, with a try on the bell in the Lisa Fiaola Cup game preventing a clean sweep.

South Sydney’s SG Ball Cup under 19s men’s team travelled to Melbourne to take on the Storm on Saturday, coming away with a 34 points to 22 win. Fullback Yasin Kuscu scored a double, as did winger Jacob Fong, to secure the victory.

The Storm led six-nil early, but a try to five-eighth Taj Alvarez in the tenth minute and conversion to halfback Matthew Humphries levelled the scores. Four minutes later Lance Tovio crossed, followed by another try to interchange forward Elijah Keung giving the Rabbitohs a 16-6 lead. The Storm struck back to lead 18-16 at the halftime break.

The second half was more fruitful for South Sydney with Kuscu’s and Fong’s doubles putting the game out of reach for the Victorians.

Kuscu and front rower Johannes Logan were the standout performers for the Rabbitohs, with Logan ably assisted around the middle of the field by lock Harrison Rooke and Keung, taking control of the middle third of the field.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 34 (Yasin Kuscu 2, Jacob Fong 2, Taj Alvarez, Lance Tovio, Elijah Keung tries; Matthew Humphries 3 goals) defeated Melbourne Storm 22

Prior to that game, the Rabbitohs’ Harold Matthews Cup under 17s boys’ team defeated the Storm 24 points to 18, having led 18 points to nil at half time. First half tries to hooker Zane Hill, back rower Taj Aufai-Farani and interchange player Dennishely Taukafa set up the game, before the Storm fought back to level the scores with three tries in 14 minutes in the second half. The Rabbitohs took the lead with ten minutes left on the clock through a try to front rower Anthony Mailangi that gave South Sydney the decisive lead, with defence over the final ten minutes sealing the win.

Mailangi and five-eighth Payton Tarau were the Rabbitohs’ best players in round two, taking control of the game and leading the Rabbitohs to their second victory from two games so far this year.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 (Zane Hill, Taj Aufai-Farani, Dennishely Taukafa, Anthony Mailangi tries; Keone Anitelea Tsioussis 3, Asher Pung goals) defeated Melbourne Storm 18

The Rabbitohs Tarsha Gale Cup under 19s women’s team had a solid 22 points to 18 win over the St George Dragons at Redfern Oval on Saturday afternoon, after scores were level at 12-all at half time.

First half tries to front rower Mequynne Logan and winger Ava Lavender set the platform, with further second half tries to winger Shaylee Haines and hooker Josephine Zapantis putting a gap in the scoreline, leading 22-12 with 15 minutes left on the clock. The Dragons mounted a late comeback, but the Rabbitohs were able to fight their way out of the their own end to secure the two competition points.

Zapantis defended strongly all game and was rewarded for her efforts with the match-winning try, lock Keilani Manu was powerful in attack and defence, and halfback Kiara McGregor’s long kicking game got the Rabbitohs out of trouble on more than one occasion, with a pinpoint cross field kick for her right winger producing a four-pointer.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 (Mequynne Logan, Ava Lavender, Shaylee Haines, Josephine Zapantis tries; Kiara McGregor 3 goals) defeated St George Dragons 18

The South Sydney Lisa Fiaola Cup under 17s girls’ team suffered a heart-breaking 16 points to 12 defeat at the hands of the St George Dragons, with the Red V scoring on the bell to snatch the win.

The Rabbitohs were the first to score through front rower Victoria Loleni, giving the Rabbitohs a six-nil halftime lead.

The Dragons scored twice in the second half to lead 10-6 with 15 minutes remaining before South Sydney fullback Taya Donovan scored with 11 minutes remaining. Halfback Remy Roper converted to give the Rabbitohs a 12-10 lead.

With seconds remaining on the clock, the Dragons were pressuring South Sydney’s goal line, before hooker Monique Marshall dived over from dummy half to steal the win.

The Rabbitohs halves of Roper and five-eighth Alexus Gordon led the team around the park and the middle forwards attacked strongly throughout the match, but the team did not make the most of the opportunities they earned, a tough lesson to learn but a lesson they will take into round four as they look to secure their first win of the season following a round three bye.

St George Dragons 16 defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 (Victoria Loleni, Taya Donovan tries; Remy Roper 2 goals)