The men are being separated from the boys as the NSW Intrust Super Premiership continues to heat up in the back-end of the 2018 season. With finals spots up for grabs, teams know it’s now or never if they want to taste success in late September as the Premiers.
That was no truer than last weekend where a number of pulsating fixtures continued the make up of the top 8.
In the SWR League match of the day at Belmore, the Canterbury Bulldogs moved into the top 4 at the expense of the St George Illawarra Dragons by outclassing the Warriors 30-18 in a topsy-turvy game. Holding a slender 10-6 lead at half time the Dogs were turned away time and time again by the Warriors defence as frustration took its toll. Then, when Pat Sipley scored for the visitors in the 53rd minute against the run of play the Dogs found themselves trailing despite having dominated possession and territory. Luckily for them, five-eighth Josh Cleeland stood up with a brilliant intercept try six minutes later in a move which bolstered the Bulldogs who went on with the job via further tries to Tom Carr and Chris Smith to record the win. The Bulldogs have now taken maximum points from their last four games (three wins and a bye) and look ready to make a rumble in the finals series.
Out at Manly, the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles slide continued as they lost an entertaining clash with Western Suburbs 32-26. However with the Warriors defeat, the Workers are still only a point adrift of the finals spots. Meanwhile, Wests stopped a six game slide that had seen it lose four of the past six encounters. Pita Godinet was impressive for the victors with a haul of two tries and four goals for 16 points.
Penrith extended their lead at the top of the ladder to five points and in the process have all but wrapped up the Minor Premiership barring a miraculous collapse. They won a classic with Newtown at Henson Park 28-24 with Wayde Egan’s 70th minute try being the sealer for the Mountain Men. In a great look for the Reserve Grade competition here in Sydney, more than 7,000 people flocked to the inner west for the Beer, wine, food and footy festival.
In the other clashes: Norths stunned Mounties at Aubrey Keech Reserve 34-6 to keep their finals hopes alive, Wentworthville beat the lowly Knights 18-16 at Cessnock and Wyong’s run up the ladder continued as they were far too strong for the Dragons 34-22.
On Saturday the SWR League team will be at the mouth-watering clash between North Sydney and Wyong with plenty on offer for both sides.
The Bulldogs travel down the M1 to Wollongong to tackle the Dragons, Newcastle host Mounties up in Newcastle, Newtown host the out of form Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles and Penrith face off with Western Suburbs at Panthers Stadium.
To listen to the SWR League team on Saturday, tune into SWR999.com.au/SS1 from 12pm, with kick off slated for 1pm.
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/07/25/weekly-wrap-intrust-super-premiership-2/
