THE two senior Illawarra South Coast Dragons sides have maintained their perfect start to the 2019 CRL Country Championships, as they both defeated the Riverina Bulls on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The under 23 men's side, coached by Wade Forrester, ran in nine tries to two, as they thrashed the Bulls 52-10 at Figtree's Collegians Sporting Complex.
Donte Efaraimo, Michael Applebee, Cooper Purcell and Juvilee Samiu all scored doubles, as Cam Vazzoler scored the the final try, as well as kicking eight goals in the win - with Riley Flint and Liam Wiscombe scoring the visitors' four-pointers.
During the win, Forrester's side were led by Group Seven's Jye Brooker, Efaraimo, Nick Greenhalgh, Wayde Aitken, Jayden Morgan, Max Wolfson, Kade Sampson (all Shellharbour), Vazzoler, Luke Chalker, Tom Angel (all Kiama), Tyler Clark (Milton-Ulladulla) and Tyson Simpson (Nowra-Bomaderry).
Not to be outdone, the women's side defeated the Bulls 16-14 thanks to a late try from Kezie Apps.
Apps scored two tries for Adam Bezzina's squad, which featured Josie Strong (Berry-Shoalhaven Heads) and Talia Atfield (Nowra-Bomaderry), with Maddi Alderdice scoring the teams third - as Rachael Pearson landed two conversions.
These two victories follow up strong opening round wins against GSW Wests Tigers at Camden.
In the final round of the junior championships, the ISC Dragons split their matches.
Glenn Buffolin's Laurie Daley Cup side secured their spot in the semi-finals by defeating Riverina 38-16, behind tries from Alex Lobb (three), Tyrone Roberts (three), Jay Weaver and Phoenix Ventebua-Finnerty.
Buffolin's side was headline by Albion Park-Oak Flats' Kane Ball, Weaver and Cooper Tunbridge, Berry-Sholhaven Heads' Billy Hayburn and Ky Sims,, Warilla-Lake South's Duke Grant and Zane Boersma and Kiama's William Webb.
While the season of Cameron Thurgate's Andrew Johns Cup side is over, after falling 26-16 to Riverina, despite four-pointers from Jonah Longbottom, Kyron Ebbs-Windisch and Will Starling.
There was again a number of Group Seven talents in this squad, including Berry's Joseph Nelson and Jack McKechnie, Shellharbour's Jarvis Austin, Ebbs-Windisch and Starling, St Georges Basin's Longbottom and Thomas Birnie, Warilla's Keith Gatt, Culburra's Kaleb Stewart and Milton-Ulladulla's Sam Fitzpatrick.