Whilst the records tumble in the new look and highly unpredictable Division Two competition- the Premier League continues to be a three horse race as Wellington, Gold Coast, and surprisingly, Central Coast- ravage sides week in and week out whilst the other two promoted sides struggle to find points.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Andrew Johns, already the top try-scorer in Premier League, put his hand up again today- scoring a try and having a hand in several others as the Gold Coast Crusade humbled Christchurch 50-10 at Carara Stadium. Taking over the goal-kicking from Wilkinson, Johns amassed eighteen points in the one sided romp.
Gold Coast: Andrew Johns, Matthew Bowen, Matt Gidley, Billy Slater, Jonny Wilkinson 2, Scott Logan, and Clint Newton 2. Johns 7/9
Christchurch: Fourcade Abasse 2. Paul 1/2
PoM Points: Andrew Johns 3, George Smith 2, and Mark Hughes 1.
Central Coast have stayed in touch with Wellington for another week today, silencing their critics with a commanding 28-12 win over the North Melbourne Maulers. Captain Robbie O'Davis was at his sparkling best, putting his hand up early for a Queensland jumper.
North Melbourne: Joven Clarke 2. Walker 2/3
Central Coast: Hazem El Masri, Travis Norton 2, and Ben Harris 2. El Masri 4/5
PoM Points: Robbie O'Davis 3, Hazem El Masri 2, and Ben Harris 1.
Wellington have finally ended their North Sydney hoodoo, but they did it tough in one of the games of the season. The Cougars raced to a 20-8 lead in the second half, but North Sydney clawed back to trail by six with fifteen to go. The Cougars, injury ravaged, laid a solid defensive platform and held on for a 20-14 win.
North Sydney: Lars Ojanssen and Matthew Burke. Burke 3/3
Wellington: Brett Hodgson, Clinton Toopi, Jamie Peacock, and John Sitizien. Luana 2/5
PoM Points: John Sitizien 3, Graham Luana 2, and Brett Hodgson 1.
Adelaide have almost blown their first win of the season, a woeful second half turning a 12-0 halftime lead into a 12 all deadlock with seconds to go. For the first time all year, the Attitude lifted, and a late Long field goal registered a 13-12 win for the visitors.
Parramatta: Richard Swain and Tonie Carroll. Fitzgibbon 2/3
Adelaide: Henry Paul and Bryan Riley. Paul 2/2. Long 1 fg.
PoM Points: James Lowes 3, Craig Fitzgibbon 2, and Richard Swain 1.
Surfers Paradise's stars have stood up today, the Wizards relying on big performances from their Origin and International stars to record a vital 18-6 win over the visiting Darwin Cyclones.
Surfers Paradise: Rhys Wesser, David Vaeleki, and Amos Roberts. Hannay 3/3
Darwin: Andrew Ryan. Singh 1/1
PoM Points: David Vaeleki 3, Luke Ricketson 2, and Rhys Wesser 1.
Perth have put last week's embarassing loss behind them today, showing no mercy as they downed Manly 38-12 in steamy conditions out west. The Taipans continue to show that they'll be contenders this year, whilst Manly are back to their woeful worst. The win comes with a shift to five-eighth by QLD fullback Darren Lockyer.
Perth: Cameron Davis, Mark McLinden, Ardent Rivers 2, Darren Lockyer, Tony Grimaldi, and Rodney Howe. Lockyer 5/7
Manly: Aaron Moule and Stacey Jones. Rogers 2/2
PoM Points: Owen Finegan 3, Darren Lockyer 2, and Ardent Rivers 1.
Despite their best game since ascending into Premier League, the Wollongong Destructors were still not able to topple a sloppy Central side. The Destructors defended better than in recent weeks, but were outclassed 20-10 by last year's Grand Finalists.
Wollongong: Paul Gallen and Richard Goddard. Orr 1/2
Central: Karle Hammond, Anthony Himmler, Matthew Jobson, and Gorden Tallis. Schifcofske 2/4
PoM Points: Gorden Tallis 3, Karle Hammonde 2, and Anthony Himmler 1.
Despite a dominating performance from Origin rookie, Jamie Venables, the Carnarvon Cowboys have again fallen short as South Melbourne wowed their home fans with a 22-16 win. The 'Whippet' was again Carnarvon's best, but the Grizzlies are now dangerously low, and need a form reversal soon.
South Melbourne: Edward Oaken 2, Ian Sibbit, and Skip Williams. O'Neill 3/5
Carnarvon: Jamie Venables, Johnathon Thurston, and Michael Vella. Girdler 2/3
PoM Points: Jamie Venables 3, Iafeta Pelea'easina 2, and Iestyn Harris 1.
DIVISION TWO
The Auckland Marlins have recorded their first win of the season, upstaging a lazy Tamworth City side to lead 20-6 at halftime. The Marlins were sloppy in the second half, but a late try to Damien Mostyn sealed a 20-6 win for the home side.
Auckland: Damien Mostyn, Mark Aopaeia, Braden Oakes, and Mangus Reece.
Tamworth City: Kurt Gidley. Cummins 1/2
PoM Points: Justin Harrison 3, Mangus Reece 2, and Damien Mostyn 1.
Only a week after Mat Toschak lead Port Moresby to a 23-14 win over the visiting Bulls, he's turned around and done it again at ANZ Stadium- marshalling his side to a 24-12 win over the out of form Brisbane Bulls.
Brisbane: Kevin Sinfield and Craig Stapleton. Sinfield 2/2
Port Moresby: Steve Bell, Tommy Martyn, John Morris, and Wairangi Koopu. Rice 4/6
PoM Points: Mat Toschak 3, Wairangi Koopu 2, and Tommy Martyn 1.
Redlands and Cairns have continued to surprise their critics today, playing out an outstanding game in Cairns. The White Pointers lead 12-8 at the break, but were never safe in a game which saw Redlands continually make inroads and then blow chances. The final score of 18-12 showed just how hard both sides have worked on improving their intensity.
Cairns: Todd Polglase, Quentin Pongia, and Bilal Najjarin. Lamaison 3/5
Redlands: Paul Sterling and Geoff Bell. Takawira 2/3
PoM Points: Quentin Pongia 3, Christophe Lamaison 2, and Paul Sterling 1.
Stupid mistakes in the last quarter of their clash with Ipswich have cost Penrith a game they could have won- the Highlanders being upset 26-22 by the Ipswich Reds in Ipswich.
Ipswich: Dean Young, Grant Wooden, and Steve MacNamara 2. MacNamara 5/6
Penrith: Lee Gilmour, Martin Gleeson, Brett Firman, and Neil Turley. Riddell 3/5
PoM Points: Dean Young 3, Brett Firman 2, and Steve MacNamara 1.
It seems that captain Andy Farrell's recent negative remarks in a candid interview with Tommy O'Reilly have sparked something, as the New England Ferrets turned back the clock to embarass Newcastle 44-4 in front of a dismayed Newcastle crowd. Whether the win signals a revival is another thing, but the Ferrets looked ominous in their win.
Newcastle: Bill Narwan. Narwan 0/1
New England: David Peachy, Lewis Francis 2, Matt Cooper, Chris Joynt 2, and Ben Walker 2. Farrell 6/8
PoM Points: David Peachy 3, Loren Broussard 2, and Ben Walker 1.
Capetown have scored 42 second half points to down Hawkesbury 66-10 in an amazing form reversal, as Andrew Mehrtens continues to dominate Division Two, today scoring 36 points. The win sees Capetown leap into first, and silences the usually flamboyant Brian Randell, whose side is now on the recieving end of the worst beating in recent history.
Capetown: Brenton Bowen, Robert Miles, Darren Rogers, Andrew Mehrtens 3, Derek Gateshead, Braam van Straaten, Alois Bunjiara, Mark Meredith, and Noah Sete. Mehrtens 11/11
Hawkesbury: Brad Fittler and Mick van der Wall. Prescott 1/2
PoM Points: Andrew Mehrtens 3, Alois Bunjiara 2, and Derek Gateshead 1.
Another abysmal refereeing display by Justin Hoy has seen him dropped from Division Two, after his dubious calls cost Townsville a possible win over Coffs Harbour, who held on to win 20-14 after the Dolphins were denied three certain tries.
Coffs Harbour: Anthony Minichiello, Rodger Randal, and Justin Hodges. Opan 4/5
Townsville: David Giffin and Pat Howard. Elken 1/1. Ncube 2/2
PoM Points: Craig Bowen 3, Pat Howard 2, and Alwyn Simpson 1.
South Queensland, under a new name and new coach, have impressed their fans and league officiandos today with a solid 18-0 win over the visiting Canberra Chargers. Whilst Hawkesbury, until this week, have competed- Canberra and Brisbane have been woeful.
South Queensland: Nick Bradley-Quailawa, Matthew Rodwell, Anthony Farrell, and Willie Leyshon. Rodwell 1/4
Canberra: None.
PoM Points: Matthew Rodwell 3, Willie Leyshon 2, and Anthony Tyan 1.
Eastwood continue to be the Division Two wildcards, putting all memory of their recent poor form aside in a 36-2 flogging of cross-town rivals, Fairfield. The move of bench utility to Motu Tony was a revelation, the young maestro in everything as the Pumas had little trouble in their big win.
Eastwood: Tom O'Shea, Narem Ekhbatana, Matt Adamson 2, David Furner, and Tyran Smith. Furner 6/6
Fairfield: None. Magro 1/1
PoM Points: Motu Tony 3, Andy Hay 2, and Matt Adamson 1.
The injection of Premier League star, Glenn Morrison, into the Suva lineup for their big clash with Sydney has sparked a second half scoring blitz by both sides, in what is now the highest scoring game in recent years. The Suns dominated the second half, Morrison's hat-trick leading to a 48-26 win for the visiting Suns. The move of Christian Cullen, normally a fullback, into hooker also paid divideds for the improving Fijians.
Sydney: Damien Fields, Nigel Vagana, and Matt Utai 2. Fields 5/7
Suva: Brian Carney, Christian Cullen, Glenn Morrison 3, Alan Tongue 2, and Mark Tookey. O'Gara 8/10
PoM Points: Glenn Morrison 3, Christian Cullen 2, and Mark Tookey 1.
