Campbelltown top table as Plate Kicks Off

The first piece of Official Online Rugby League silverware is on the line with the previously announced Pre-Season Plate kicking off on Friday night, big wins to Campbelltown (54-18) and Bundaberg (36-6) have seen them rocket to the top of the table.

History was made when the first Official competition of the Online Rugby League kicked off on Friday night with the Pre-Season Plate action getting underway, the Campbelltown Blazers played host to the Hobart Raiders at Campbelltown Unity Park where it took just eight-minutes for the home side to score the first points of the season through George Olakau’atu.

The Hobart defensive line was again torn open just minutes later when Makal May scored the second try for the home side, Nicolas Jennings adding the extra as the team extended their lead to 10-points in what ended up setting the tone for the afternoon.

The scoring onslaught from the host team was brought to an end briefly when Oliver-William Young scored a try for the visiting Hobart side in the 21st minute, a brief piece of joy for the visitors as the game looked to have been secured by the half-time siren when they lead 34-4.

When Eli Bennett crossed just moments into the second half the two-competition points had been secured for Campbelltown, who despite letting in two late tries to the visitors through Caleb Johnston and Leka Fainu, ran out convincing 54-18 victors – a win that would see them take top spot on the ladder by the time Round 1 came to an end.

At the Central Coast Civic Arena the Central Coast Badlands went head-to-head with the Tuggeranong Dynasty which saw the visiting side race out to an eight-nil lead as Emile-Enzo Robert scored a try inside the opening ten-minutes, adding to an earlier Elliot Elliott penalty goal to provide their side the early lead.

Dane Ah Mau hit back in the 12th minute for the home side, Zac Parker slotting the conversion to bring the scores closer at 8-6. Where just minutes before the break Tuggeranong slipped through some tired defence to extend their lead to eight-points as Robert crossed for his second to take a 14-6 lead into the half time break.

Following the break Misi Vagana scored a try for the visitors to extend the lead to 22-6 in what looked to be an action that put the result beyond doubt, however late tries to Zac Parker and Jacob Boyd did give the home side a glimmer of hope – it ended up being too little too late with Tuggeranong holding out 28-16 victors.

At Perth Heritage Oval the home crowd were treated to a masterclass by their side in the first half who raced out of the blocks to lead 20-nil against the visiting Hervey Bay Dingoes. First half tries to Joshua Luai, Felise Katoa and James Webster had the atmosphere pumping and the home fans ecstatic to welcome Rugby League back to the region.

The mood was somewhat subdued in the second half when the Dingoes came to attack, Eli Reynolds scored their first try shortly after play resumed before Max Fraser-Stewart reduced the margin to just eight-points when he crossed for the visiting teams second.

Zac Gagai stemmed the flow of points to the visitors when he scored for the home side to extend their lead to 26-12, a lead that was added too with a penalty goal just minutes later as it looked as though Perth were wrestling back the momentum of the match, it turned out to be the opposite though.

Five-tries in one single 20-minute period saw Hervey Bey romp home. It started in the 60th minute when Tui Moala scored to reduce the deficit to 12-points, that was cut to just eight when Logan Wilson scored in the 64th minute.  When Moala scored his second with just eight-minutes left on the clock the successful conversion had seen the home sides lead reduced to just two-points.

Joel Roberts scored a try for Hervey Bay with five-minutes remaining to take the lead for the visitors 32-28, then the come from behind 36-28 victory was secured when Ryan Hill crossed in the 79th minute.

In Auckland it was a battle of the North Island as Auckland battled against Hawera in a hard fought match between the two sides.

Hawera scored first in the 10th minute through Isaac Carter. a lead that was eroded by Hugh Black who crossed for the home side in the 21st minute. When George Lee crossed in the 34th minute for the visitors it looked as though they would be the side enjoying the lead when the teams broke for oranges at half time, however Hugh Black had something to say about that crossing just before the break as the Auckland snatched a 12-10, two-point half time lead.

The second half proved as tight of a battle as the first as Hawera first levelled the scores through a penalty goal early in the second stanza, before hitting the lead 18-12 through Owen Booth. As was the fashion with the game Auckland hit back through Hamish Lane-Ross (18-all) before hitting the lead through Owen Morris (24-18) with 25-minutes to play.

Hawera weren’t going to die wondering getting the score back to within two-points with a try to Isaac Carter, however the skill off the Auckland team proved too much as they powered home with two-late tries to run out 38-22 winners.

It was a low scoring affair at Beenleigh Frontier Stadium as Beenleigh Daredevils did battle with the Wellington Koru, a match that saw two-tries to none as Beenleigh ran out 12-6 victors. Levi Thompson opened the scoring in the first minute of play, however following that three consecutive penalty goals to the visitors saw the scores level deep into the second half.

It was not until Evan James scored a try 16-minutes from full time to take the lead 12-6 that fans were able to sit back from the edge of their seats.

Poor discipline played its part to coast the Whanganui Highlanders who fell agonisingly short at home to the Acacia Ridge Magpies 22-20. 

Both sides got off to a nervy start, exchanging penalties throughout the opening quarter of the match as the Magpies took a slim 4-2 lead. A lead that was extended just before the half time break when Sam Hunter scored the opening try of the season for the Magpies. It took the home side just three-minutes before they hit back with a try of their own through Sebastian Lawson.

Prior to half time the fans were sent to the concession stands happy when Malachi Sullivan scored for the home side to enjoy a slender 14-10 lead at half time.

Two penalties early in the second half by the Magpies saw the scores once again draw level, the visitors then taking the lead when Samuel Walker crossed in the 62nd minute to be ahead 20-14. The see-sawing match continued when with eight-minutes to go Jai Reed scored for Whanganui, Hamish Walker with a penalty for the home side just five minutes from full time saw the scores level at 20-all.

It was Sam Hunter who stood up for Acacia Ridge as time ticked by, with three minutes to go he landed a field goal to give his side a 21-20 lead. Lachlan Dawson then ended any chance of a last minute reprieve from the home side when he slotted a second field-goal for the visitors just as time expired – the Acacia Ridge Magpies securing a hard fought 22-20 win.

While the opening round means there isn’t much movement to report on the ladder front the early pre-season form has seen Campbelltown place itself on top of the ladder due to their for and against.