Round 3 saw plenty of big wins, upsets, and the first draw of the 2003 ASRL season. With Wellington and Hawkesbury dominating the first two rounds, could round three see them toppled?

PREMIER LEAGUE
Gold Coast have recorded their second win of the season, demolishing the Adelaide Attitude 18-0 in the first half. The second half saw the Attitude resurge briefly, before Andrew Johns sealed the game with his tenth try of the season.
Adelaide: Joe Black and Daniel Herbert. Paul 1/2
Gold Coast: Scott Logan, George Smith, Andrew Johns, and Danny Buderus. Wilkinson 3/4
PoM Points: George Smith 3, Andrew Johns 2, and Mark Hughes 1.

In the best Premier League game of the round, the Carnarvon Grizzlies have started with all guns blazing to lead North Melbourne 14-6 at the break. However, the Maulers turned it around in the second half, scoring three more tries to record an emphatic 23-14 away victory.
Carnarvon: Iestyn Harris and Nathan Blacklock. Girdler 4/4
North Melbourne: Robbie Kearns, Richard Taylor, Luke Phillips, and Clayton Lyons. Sculthorpe 2/4. Walker 1/1. Campbell 1 fg.
PoM Points: Iestyn Harris 3, Kris Tassel 2, and Ryan Girdler 1.

Central Coast today asserted that they'll be the hardest Division Two ascension side to beat, massacring Christchurch 34-2 in a match which saw the two automatic ascenders from last year do battle. Lebanese internationals Hazem El Masri and Guiseppi Magro were outstanding in the one sided display.
Central Coast: Phillipe Bernat-Salles, Ben Harris, Hazem El Masri, Brad Commins 2, and Travis Norton. El Masri 5/6
Christchurch: None. Paul 1/1
PoM Points: Terry O'Connor 3, Hazem El Masri 2, and Guiseppi Magro 1.

North Sydney today bounced back from last week's upset loss to South Melbourne, returning home in style to thrash Surfers Paradise 28-6. The Newbloods were at their block-busting best, with star fullback Matt Burke directing play to perfection.
North Sydney: Nathan McAvoy, Keith Wood 2, Vila Mautatia, and Evan Mears. Burke 4/5
Surfers Paradise: Marc Calderwood. Hannay 1/1
PoM Points: Matthew Burke 3, Ben Ikin 2, and Marc Calderwood 1.

Wollongong fans were hoping to see their chargers perform today against the winless Manly Cannons, and had plenty to cheer when their side lead 10-2 at halftime. However, little known five-eighth Stanley Tepend shattered Wollongong's hopes of a first win- scoring four second half tries to lead the Cannons to a 30-16 win.
Manly: Stanley Tepend 4 and Dallas Hood. Rogers 5/6
Wollongong: Stanley Tepend 3, David Lyons 2, and Matt Giteau 1.

A Jessie Kidman intercept try in the 79th minute has given Darwin a piece of the first draw in season 2003. The Cyclones trailed 20-14 leading into the game's end, the late try meaning South Melbourne and Darwin shared the points courtesy of a 20 all scoreline.
Darwin: Jessie Kidman 2, Kevin Campion, and Frank Puletua. Singh 2/4
South Melbourne: Luke Lewis, Terry Newton, and Ian Sibbit. O'Neill 4/6
PoM Points: Wade McKinnon 3, Ian Sibbit 2, and Adam MacDougall 1.

When it was dead-locked at 6 all between Perth and Welllington after forty minutes of football- it looked like Wellington's winning streak could be ended, but a dominant second half from the reigning premiers and a shocking second half from the Taipans saw the Cougars run out 32-6 winners to sit on top of the Premier League ladder for another week.
Wellington: Clinton Toopi, Timana Tahu, Jeremy Paul 2, Paul Stringer, and Caleb Ralph. Luana 4/7
Perth: Keiran Cunningham. Lockyer 1/1
PoM Points: Timana Tahu 3, Jeremy Paul 2, and Graham Luana 1.

If Wellington are Premier League favourites, then Central must be close on their tales, putting on a try-scoring display as they crushed last year's finalists, Parramatta, 48-10. The Phoenix ran in eight tries in the match, four in each half, to erase all memory of their embarassing round one home defeat against Central Coast.
Central: Lesley Vainakolo, Justin Murphy 3, Harley Autitia, Nick Youngquest, Matthew Jobson, and Tyler Durden.Schifcofske 8/11
Parramatta: Francis Meli and Craig Fitzgibbon. Fitzgibbon 1/2
PoM Points: Justin Murphy 3, Clinton Schifcofske 2, and Karle Hammond 1.

DIVISION TWO
The Capetown Ravens have dominated fellow Division Two contenders, Newcastle, 38-14 in a one sided display in South Africa. The Ravens lead 20-6 halftime and continued on from there, showing they'll be a team to beat in 2003.
Capetown: Steve Williams, Andrew Mehrtens, Derek Gateshead, Mark Meredith, Robert Miles, and Noah Sete. Mehrtens 7/7
Newcastle: Richard Peleasina, Brett Dallas, and Paul Anderson. Narwan 1/4
PoM Points: Michael Robertson 3, Derek Gateshead 2, and Andrew Mehrtens 1.

Coffs Harbour ensured they didn't fall victim to Ipswich's surprise tactics today, having no trouble in downing the Reds 28-0 in a dominant display. It was a beautiful day in Coffs, and the Wyrms turned it on for the big home crowd.
Coffs Harbour: Anthony Minichiello, David Raelke, Tana Umaga, Adam Woolnough, and Michael Eager. Opan 4/5
Ipswich: None.
PoM Points: Adam Woolnough 3, Ryan Sheridan 2, and Roger Randal 1.

Hawkesbury defeated Auckland 38-24 to record their third victory of the year and remain the only undefeated Division Two side, but it was a sloppy affair- the Mavericks almost blowing a 28-6 lead when the Marlins raced back to trail by four. Two late tries sealed a match which Hawkesbury should have dominated.
Hawkesbury: Matthew Rieck, Joe Roff, Lee Hookey, Solomon Haumona 2, and Lupina Kaufusi. Prescott 7/9
Auckland: Mangus Reece, Russell Richardson, Darren Fleary, and Glenn Hall. Flatley 4/4
PoM Points: Solomon Haumona 3, Matthew Rieck 2, and Glenn Hall 1.

Sydney, with the help of imports from Gold Coast and Wellington, have recorded their first win of the season. The Oilers downed a Parramatta fed Penrith side 28-12, leaping out of last and getting their season back on track.
Penrith: Stuart Kelly, Marshal Dalton, and Brent Webb. Riddell 0/3
Sydney: Jason Robinson, Nigel Vagana, Ali Lauititi, and Jason Ryles 2. Fields 2/3. Covell 2/2
PoM Points: Jason Ryles 3, Damien Fields 2, and Nathan Hindmarsh 1.

Port Moresby have recorded a 23-14 win over the Brisbane Bulls, but it was far from easy, the Bulls fielding a new look side boasting plenty of forward power, a vast change from their usual backline focussed squad.
Port Moresby: Steve Bell 2, Mat Toschak, and Tommy Martyn. Rice 3/5. Martyn 1 fg.
Brisbane: Wayne Bartrim and Jamie Bloom. Sinfield 3/3
PoM Points: Mat Toschak 3, Tommy Martyn 2, and Steve Bell 1.

Redlands continue to be the wildcard side of Division Two, stepping up to the plate to record a 30-10 win over the New England Ferrets. Rhinos fans must be completley confused after the result, when last week they were humbled.
Redlands: Ben Beckett, Jody Gall, and Geoff Bell 3. Takawira 5/6
New England: David Peachy and Brian Leauma. Farrell 1/2
PoM Points: Geoff Bell 3, Ben Beckett 2, and Allianya Takawira 1.

In a sloppy but thrilling encounter, the Suva Suns have outlasted Eastwood in a 9-6 game full of controversy and blown opportunities. Eastwood had plenty of chances in the last ten minutes, cutting Suva up and then blowing their chances with knock-ons.
Suva: Brian Carney. O'Gara 2/3. Marshal 1 fg.
Eastwood: Lance Hohaia. Furner 1/2
PoM Points: Brian Carney 3, Tim Clark 2, and Lance Hohaia 1.

Cairns have won the battle of North Queensland in thrilling style, holding out two late Townsville sets to record a 22-18 win. When Eric Grothe Jr. crossed out wide in the 77th for Townsville, it set up a nail biting finish, with Cairns showing plenty of class to hold on.
Townsville: Eric Grothe Jr, Pat Howard, and Ben Galea. Ncube 3/4. Elken 0/1
Cairns: Quentin Pongia 2 and Justin Smith. Lamaisson 5/5
PoM Points: Ty Williams 3, Quentin Pongia 2, and Eric Grothe Jr 1.

The Fairfield Stallions have edged out fellow fledgling side South Queensland in a tight encounter, winning 25-20 on the back of Scott Magro's radar boot. The Stallions lead throughout, but weathered a late period of Drover dominance engineered by veteran halfback, Matthew Rodwell.
South Queensland: Matthew Rodwell, Brad Flemming, and Anthony Tyan. Rodwell 4/4
Fairfield: Danny Bampton, Matt Crowther, Darrel Trindall, and Matt Kennedy. Magro 4/5. Trindall 1 fg.
PoM Points: Scott Magro 3, Matt Crowther 2, and Matthew Rodwell 1.

The Tamworth City Titans have won their traditional clash with the Canberra Chargers, recording a vital 18-14 win over the unpredictable Chargers.
Tamworth City: Brian O'Driscroll 2 and Tony Tatupu. Cummins 3/4
Canberra: Joel Caine and Franco Luulai. Towers 3/5
PoM Points: Brian O'Driscroll 3, Adam Peek 2, and Trent Wright 1.