Rampaging Steelers Consolidate Top Spot With All-the-way Win

Illawarra Mercury

Monday March 19, 2007

By MIKE GANDON

ILLAWARRA consolidated their place at the top of the SG Ball Cup under 18s table in the NSWRL junior representative competition with a 40-0 whitewash of the Western Sydney academy team in the wet at WIN Stadium on Saturday.

The Tip Top Steelers remain unbeaten after four rounds and are playing a confident, committed brand of rugby league.

Illawarra's win was even more admirable, as they were without in-form props Trent Merrin and Dane Hogan for most of the game.

Merrin scored the Steelers' first try, but limped off soon after with ankle ligament damage which could sideline him for a couple of weeks.

Hogan left the ground with a calf injury midway through the first term.

Illawarra's second try was a beauty, sparked by a one-armed offload by second-rower Jake Marketo to captain and lock Brad Hudson, who made good ground before transferring the ball back for Marketo to score.

This was followed by a terrific individual try to Hudson, before a break by fullback Travis Roche led to a try to left winger Tariq Sims.

Right winger Chris Astill converted all four tries as the Steelers led 24-0 at the interval.

The Steelers stretched their lead in the second term through tries to Roche and centres Kane Linnett and Tyler Jones. Astill added two more conversions.

After two away losses, the Steelers' Harold Matthews Cup under 16s made a successful return home to defeat Western Sydney 28-10.

The Steelers won their season opener against South Sydney at WIN Stadium and have now won both home games.

They showed great character to win on Saturday, as Western Sydney had wins over Balmain and Canberra to their credit.

Illawarra began brightly with a try in the third minute when hooker Damien Cook slipped down the short side and captain and second-rower Jarrod Thompson galloped over, for lock Korbin Sims to convert.

Sims then scored and converted his own try before Western Sydney replied with a try to prop Michael Bloomfield, halfback Gavan Bright adding the extras.

A try to winger David Catterall had the Steelers ahead 16-6 at half-time.

They extended that lead to 22-6 when Cook scored, converted by Simon Maslanka.

Western Sydney centre Olotele Salanog scored to make it 22-10, but the Steelers completed their victory with a try to centre Adam Docker. Maslanka's goal from near touch was the icing on the cake.

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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