AT the seventh time of asking, both CANBERRA RAIDERS and WESTS TIGERS claimed their first victories of the season.
Canberra did so only after a late scare from eleven-player NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS in front of an NRLW standalone-record crowd of 5,968 in Hamilton.
Remarkably the Warriors had both Matekino Gray and Tysha Ikenasio sent off in three first-half minutes for dangerous tackles.
They already trailed 0-12 at that point, to Jordyn Preston and Sereana Naitokatoka tries plus two Zehara Temara goals.
Further tries from Mackenzie Wiki and Elise Simpson should have had the Raiders out of sight but two late scores from Payton Takimoana, completing a hat-trick and adding to a Lavinia Tauhalaliku effort, left them clinging on for a 16-20 success.
A fast start was also crucial for Wests in their 16-12 home victory against ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS.
Detaya Faifua and Tiani-Lee Thorne both scored in an opening nine minutes which also saw the Dragons’ Hannah Southwell sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle.
Zali Hopkins cut the deficit but Faifua’s second try and Emily Bass’ second conversion gave the Tigers a 16-6 half-time lead.
While Raecene McGregor converted Tori Shipton’s try with 15 minutes left, adding to a first-half goal, Saints fell short.
BRISBANE BRONCOS were utterly dominant in a 38-4 victory over PARRAMATTA EELS, with Julia Robinson scoring two tries and setting up a further two.
Romy Teitzel and Mele Hufanga also crossed twice, and kicked three goals, while further four-pointers were registered by Hayley Maddick and Destiny Brill.
Only with seven minutes left did Martha Mataele get the woefully overpowered Eels on the board.
Brisbane keep up the pursuit of SYDNEY ROOSTERS, who maintained their perfect record with a 30-14 success over third-placed NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS.
Tarryn Aiken scored two tries, the others coming from Jasmin Strange, Brydie Parker and Olivia Kernick.
Jocelyn Kelleher converted all five Roosters efforts while Newcastle responded through Jules Kirkpatrick, Georgia Roche and Tess Staines tries, one improved by Jesse Southwell.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS remain in fourth position following a 22-6 win over CANTERBURY BULLDOGS inspired by captain Kirra Dibb.
Dibb scored the opening try, kicked three goals and set up Jasmine Peters for the Cowboys’ final points, with Lily Peacock and Jakiya Whitfeld also crossing in between.
Moana Courtenay scored Canterbury’s only try, converted by Tayla Preston.
Chantay Kiria-Ratu kicked two late penalties to earn fifth-placed CRONULLA SHARKS a gritty 12-8 home win over GOLD COAST TITANS.
After a scoreless first half, Lauren Brown converted her own opening try for the Titans while Cronulla had Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu – Chantay’s younger sister – in the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle.
Emma Verran scored a try and set up another for Cassie Staples to nudge the Sharks in front before a Brown penalty levelled.
Results
Saturday 16 August
Cronulla Sharks 12 Gold Coast Titans 8
Brisbane Broncos 38 Parramatta Eels 4
New Zealand Warriors 16 Canberra Raiders 20
Sunday 17 August
Wests Tigers 16 St George Illawarra Dragons 12
Sydney Roosters 30 Newcastle Knights 14
North Queensland Cowboys 22 Canterbury Bulldogs 6
Fixtures
Saturday 23 August
Canterbury Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders (3.45am)
Gold Coast Titans v St George Illawarra Dragons (6.15am)
Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters (8.15am)
Sunday 24 August
Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos (2.50am)
New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla Sharks (4.45am)
Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys (9.15am)
(All UK time, all on Sky Sports and Watch NRL)
Table
Sydney Roosters 14 pts
Brisbane Broncos 12 pts
Newcastle Knights 10 pts
North Queensland Cowboys 10 pts
Cronulla Sharks 8 pts
New Zealand Warriors 6 pts
Parramatta Eels 6 pts
Canterbury Bulldogs 5 pts
Gold Coast Titans 5 pts
St George Illawarra Dragons 4 pts
Wests Tigers 2 pts
Canberra Raiders 2 pts