SYDNEY, 28 July 2003 — Former Australian Test captain Brad Fittler scored two tries against his old club yesterday to help the Sydney Roosters move into third place on the National Rugby League ladder with a 38-24 win over high-flying Penrith.
The Roosters surged to a 26-0 half-time lead, with Fittler scoring their opening try in the 14th minute.
The loss, before a record crowd of 22,227 at Penrith Stadium, lifted Canberra back to the top of the standings, with the Panthers sliding to second.
The Roosters moved above injury-hit Brisbane, who went down at home to Manly on Saturday.
Canberra reclaimed the competition lead with a 40-12 thrashing of the Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium.
The Sharks were woeful allowing the Raiders to dominate the game and capitalise on the many Cronulla mistakes.
After posting a 24-0 half-time lead, Canberra added their fifth try in the opening minute of the second half after Sharks scrumhalf Brett Kimmorley kicked out on the full from the kick-off.
It was typical of the Sharks’ mistake-riddled performance and wiped out any genuine hope of Cronulla finishing the season in the top eight.
The high-scoring Canterbury Bulldogs kept their winning streak alive with a 42-22 victory over North Queensland at Sydney Showground.
It was the Bulldogs’ sixth win from their last seven starts, during which time no opponent has kept them below 26 points.
For the Cowboys it was the seventh loss in their last eight games and effectively ended any realistic chance of them making the finals. The Bulldogs ran in seven tries to four, and led 18-12 at half-time.
Wests Tigers dealt a blow to Newcastle’s finals hopes with a club record 52-12 drubbing of the Knights at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Tigers ran in nine tries to two to leave the 2001 premiers in trouble, out of the top eight and with the worst for-and-against record of any team still in contention for the playoffs.
The Knights have now conceded 505 points in 18 games in 2003 and will probably need to win their remaining six matches to make the finals for the seventh year in succession.
Newcastle went into the game without Test scrumhalf and captain Andrew Johns, who has a neck injury, winger Adam MacDougall (hamstring) and rested Test hooker Danny Buderus, forcing coach Michael Hagan to make eight positional changes.
Maori Win Rugby Tour Opener Over Canada
In Calgary, Canada, the New Zealand Maori scored an impressive 65-27 win over Canada in the opening match of their three-game tour Saturday, but the World Cup-bound hosts took some positives from the contest played before more than 6,500 spectators.
Despite the efforts of Canada, the power and pace of the Maori backs told the story as its centers - All Blacks Norm Berryman and Rico Gear - opened up holes time and again in Canada’s back-line.
Gear claimed one try for himself as Berryman and he laid on two apiece for wings Joe Maddocks, and Shayne Austin. Back rowers Troy Flavell and Ron Cribb also scored tries, with with replacement Bendon Haami scoring two in the space of 10 minutes when he came on in the second-half.
Outside-half Willie Walker kicked a penalty and three conversions and second-half replacement Glen Jackson claimed two conversions. Canada’s all-time try scorer, Winston Stanley, got the 22nd of his career. Other Canadian tries were scored by Nik Witkowski, Bob Ross and Tkachuk. Ross was also successful with a three-point penalty kick.
“We definitely made some huge improvements today and can take many positives from our performance,” said Canada’s captain Ryan Banks, comparing his side’s effort to their woefull performance in last month’s Churchill Cup. “There was a lot more heart and effort from the team today. We put he ball over the line and that is what we have to do if we expect to win games.”
