NRL Round Up – Round 15
Canterbury showed their Premiership Credentials with a workmanline 19-12 defeat of Penrith.
Gavin Cooper burst over to put the Panthers ahead before a neat break from Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley put Bryson Goodwin under the posts.
Crucially for the Bulldogs they scored first after the interval through Hazem El Masri and Luke Walsh missed his penalty attempt for the visitors.
Frank Pritchard dummied his way over to keep the Panthers in the game before the home side hit back through El Masri’s second score.
A late field goal from Kimmorley sealed the win for the Dogs.
Bulldogs 19
Tries: Hazem El Masri (2), Bryson Goodwin
Goals: Hazem El Masri (3/4)
Field Goals: Brett Kimmorley (1/1)
Panthers 12
Tries: Gavin Cooper, Frank Pritchard
Goals: Luke Walsh (2/3)
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North Queensland kept a persistent Sydney Roosters outfit at bay to come out with a narrow 24-22 win in Townsville.
Two tries through Ben Jones and Shane Shackleton gave the Roosters an early lead before the Cowboys hit back through forward Carl Webb.
Further scores to Travis Burns and Aaron Payne gave the Cowboys an 18-10 lead before new boy Michael Bani was sin-binned.
Anthony Cherrington crashed over for the Roosters but Steve Southern took advantage of some woeful defending to restore his side’s lead at the break.
Mitchell Aubusson got the Roosters back in the hunt with a score but it came too late to help the chooks and the home side held on for the points.
Cowboys 24
Tries: Carl Webb, Travis Burns, Aaron Payne, Steve Southern
Goals: John Williams (4/4)
Roosters 22
Tries: Ben Jones, Shane Shackleton, Anthony Cherrington, Mitchell Aubusson
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (3/4)
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A weakened Melbourne side held off an energetic Wests Tigers to record a useful 14-12 victory.
Cooper Cronk registered the Storm’s first points of the game by crashing over for an 18th minute try although Blake Ayshford replied for the visitors.
Danie Laurie bombed a try which could have given the Tigers the lead just before the break and that mistake was compounded when Joe Tomane kicked a penalty to give the Storm a narrow 8-6 lead.
The Storm started the second period well and they were soon ahead through Matt Cross, who barged his way over to put Melbourne further ahead.
But the Tigers did not give up and thanks to a scything break from Ayshford Tim Moltzen was able to race over.
Dane Nielsen was sent off for his wayward tackle on Beau Ryan, meaning the Tigers had a one-man advantage in the final three minutes but they could not profit.
Storm 14
Tries: Cooper Cronk, Matt Cross
Goals: Joseph Tomane (3/3)
Tigers 12
Tries: Blake Ayshford, Tim Moltzen
Goals: Benji Marshall (2/2)
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Manly’s improved form continued with a 20-14 victory over Canberra.
The Sea Eagles raced into an early lead after a scintillating team try finished off by Keiran Foran and they were soon further ahead through prop George Rose.
The Raiders defended manfully and were even denied a Bronson Harrison try by the video ref and two further penalties from the home side meant they were further behind at the break.
Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves took advantage of a terrible Raiders knock on to ease the Sea Eagles out of sight.
Canberra, to their credit, did not give up and registered three scores through Trevor Thurling, Justin Carney and Phil Graham.
But the Raiders could not find the crucial fourth score and Manly held on for the win.
Sea Eagles 20
Tries: Kieran Foran, George Rose, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Goals: Matt Orford (4/5)
Raiders 14
Tries: Trevor Thurling, Justin Carney, Phil Graham
Goals: Terry Campese (1/3)
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Beleaguered Brisbane fell to a 46-12 hiding at the hands of Cronulla.
Blake Ferguson posted the Sharks’ first score to keep up his enviable try-scoring record, although Corey Parker hit back almost immediately.
But the Sharks posted two scores through Mitch Brown and Grant Millington to ease them into a commanding 18-6 lead at the break.
Steve Michaels dummied his way over straight after the break for the visitors but any thoughts of a Broncos comeback were crushed by Cronulla – who put on three tries in seven minutes thanks to a brace of scores from Ferguson and a second to Millington.
Brisbane by now were well beaten and Cronulla were able to take advantage of their poor option-taking to register a further two scores through Luke Covell and Kade Snowden.
Sharks 46
Tries: Blake Ferguson (3), Mitch Brown, Grant Millington (2), Kade Snowden, Luke Covell
Goals: Luke Covell (7/9)
Broncos 12
Tries: Corey Parker, Steve Michaels
Goals: Corey Parker (2/2)