Knights roll on, celebrate home Magic Round with a win
Margie McDonald |
Newcastle have celebrated hosting the NRLW’s first Magic Round by securing their fourth straight win.
In front of a hometown crowd the Knights triumphed 18-0 over a luckless Canberra side, while the Warriors and Parramatta returned to the winner’s circle on Sunday.
The milestones continued at McDonald Jones Stadium with the first scoreless half of the eight-year competition between the hosts and Raiders, and a favourable bounce from the left upright keeping Jesse Southwell’s perfect goal-kicking record this season (21 from 21) intact.
On Saturday, the first drawn game eventuated between Gold Coast and Canterbury (14-all) and it was the first time games had been stopped by lightning.
Newcastle fans sat uncomfortably in their seats as the winless Raiders held the two-time premiers to 0-0 at halftime.
But the Knights kicked into gear after the break with tries to winger Sheridan Gallagher and prop Tiana Davison – both with Southwell in the thick of the action.
A third Knights try to hooker Olivia Higgins, after sustained pressure on the Raiders line, sealed the result.
“We knew it was a game we were going to have to grind and we were up for the battle,” said Newcastle captain Yasmin Clydsdale.
Canberra coach Darren Borthwick said that despite the 0-5 start to the season there was a lot of belief in his team.
“It’s still not the result we want but they keep turning up for each other and I feel there’s light at the end of the tunnel for them,” he said.
North Queensland coach Ricky Henry said his side were “out-enthused” by the Warriors, going down 12-6 and throwing away the chance to grab a third straight win.
The Cowboys took a 6-0 lead through a Rosie Kelly try in the ninth minute, but that was as good as it got.
“Our intent wasn’t there today – we got out-enthused,” he said.
After wins over Cronulla and Canberra, the Cowboys showed none of their customary grit and fightback.
Halfback Kirra Dibb is still sitting on the sidelines after being dropped three weeks ago, but Henry says she will be available for next weekend’s game against the Eels.
A try for prop Ivana Lauitiiti after she swatted away three defenders in her 10-metre run to the line, and a second four-pointer to winger Payton Takimoana did the damage for the Warriors, who avoided a third straight defeat.
“We spoke about being prepared to win the game by skill but we’ll be ready to win the game by will,” coach Ron Griffiths said.
“We arrived in Newcastle to torrential rain so we did our captain’s run in the rain and then had a swim at Newcastle baths. And the players just said ‘Yep, let’s get it done’.”
And Parramatta bounced back from a big loss to the Knights, narrowly beating St George Illawarra 12-10.
The Eels were down 6-2 at halftime and had an uphill battle after they lost five-eighth Cassey Tohi-Hiku (ankle) and centre Rory Owen (leg) to reduce their bench to two for the second half.
It dropped to one when Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) left in the 59th minute and didn’t return, but Fleur Ginn’s four-pointer with nine minutes to go lifted Steve Georgallis’ side to fifth.
AAP
