A hat trick on debut for Mia Wood helped the Roosters make it four straight with a dominant 48-10 victory over the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
Running in 10 tries in 70 minutes, John Strange's side recorded the biggest score in NRLW history with halves Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken combining superbly to send eight Roosters over for four-pointers.
With the Wests Tigers losing co-captain Kezie Apps and centre Rikeya Horne to head knocks and Sarah Togatuki sent to the bin with seven minutes to play, the Roosters ran rampant at Allianz Stadium to send a warning shot to the rest of the competition.
In their first set of the match, the Roosters marched all the way down field which saw winger Brydie Parker crash over out-wide. Kelleher converted 6-0.
In what was a dominant first ten minutes from the Roosters, Millie Boyle crashed over with some clever footwork close to the line, taking their lead out to 12-0.
After a slow peel penalty in the following set put the Roosters back in scoring position, centre Isabelle Kelly scored her fourth try of the year out on the left edge.
Isabelle Kelly Try
Momentum swung the way of the visitors after a Roosters error and Togatuki struck back with some late footwork close to the line to score against her former team. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale converted the extras to reduce the deficit 16-6.
The Roosters were in for their fourth try through Wood after their right-side attack quickly spread it out to the edge but Kelleher was unable to convert.
Australian international Jesscia Sergis was next to join the Tricolours score sheet, shortly followed by Wood grabbing her second for the afternoon.
Jessica Sergis Try
Tigers centre Rikeya Horne capitalised off the back of a slick backline play on the stroke of half-time, bringing the score to 28-10 at the break.
Amelia Pasikala Try
It took the Roosters seven minutes to score in the second half with interchange forward Amelia Pasikala crashing over from close range to score her first NRLW try. Kelleher converted the try for a 34-10 lead.
After a back and forth 15-minute period, the Roosters hit the 40 when Parker found Corban Baxter as a support player out-wide. Kelleher converting from in-front to extend the lead 40-10.
Wood was having a debut to remember when she crossed for her third try of the afternoon in the 64th minute.
The Roosters centres combined in the last minute of the match for a full-field run which saw Kelleher cross from dummy-half in the subsequent play, taking the full-time score to 48-10.
Match: Roosters v Wests Tigers
Round 6 -
home Team
Roosters
1st Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
7th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match Snapshot
- The Roosters recorded the biggest score in NRLW history, running in 10 tries in their Round 6 victory.
- Wests Tigers co-captain Kezie Apps left the field with a head knock in the seventh minute and did not return after failing her HIA.
- Wests Tigers centre Rikeya Horne also left the field in the 35th minute with a head knock and did not return after failing her HIA.
- Wests Tigers prop Sarah Togatuki was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul in the 64th minute.
- Wests Tigers hooker Ebony Prior left the field with an ankle concern in the 23rd minute but returned in the 48th minute.
- Roosters winger Mia Wood had a debut to remember with a hat trick, two line breaks and a tackle break.
- The Sydney Roosters have the best defensive and attacking record with conceding 72 points, and scoring 164 points.
- Kiwi Ferns international Mya Hill-Moana ran 116 metres in her 21-minute stint for the Roosters in the first-half.
- Roosters interchange hooker Shawden Burton suffered a suspected knee injury in the 44th minute.
Play of the Game
It was debutant Mia Wood who finished a superb team try, featuring some superb lead up work from halfback Jocelyn Kelleher and a nice catch and pass play from Olivia Kernick and Jess Sergis.
Mia Wood Try
What They Said
"I thought our effort was really good for the whole 70 minutes but we had two players with head knocks, 18th man activation, players playing out of position. If we got 50/50 share of the ball in the first half and defended really well for the first 20 minutes, who knows what the result could have been." - Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley.
Wests Tigers: Round 6
"We spoke at half-time about not worrying about us in relation to what we're going to do with the footy and our points, it’s about keeping them to zero. It’s not about the scoreboard for us, it’s not even about winning, it’s about being individually as good as we can be and collectively the best team we can be." - Roosters coach John Strange.
Roosters: Round 6
What's Next
The Roosters travel to Gosford to meet with the Eels at Industree Group Stadium on Sunday while the Wests Tigers head to the gold Coast to clash with the Titans.
