The second round of the Bob Fulton Cup produced a few upsets, but for the most part it was smooth sailing for the competition heavyweights.

Wollongong have continued to scrape through the tournament against weak opposition, the Destructors getting home 17-10 against an enthusiastic Balmain pack, with Stacey Jones' 77th minute field goal sealing the result.
Balmain: Benji Marshall and Chris Heightington. Pritchard 1/2
Wollongong: Stacey Jones and Chris Whittaker. Hodgson 4/5. Jones 1 fg.
HT Score: 10 all
PoM Points: Stacey Jones 3, Chris Heightington 2, and Tim McGann 1.

Berlin have broken their own record for furthest progress by an invitational side in the Bob Fulton Cup, today's dominant 30-12 win over Shanghai sending the Warlords through to their first ever round of sixteen. The Warlords were helped along by a number of former ASRL stars, including Central Coast's Sammy El Hajij and Wellington's Justin Holbrook.
Berlin: Andrei Doumalkine, Justin Holbrook 2, Lee Ralleigh, and Rinat Chamsoutdinov. El Hajij 5/6
Shanghai: Jamie Burrows and Ryan Thumper-Knox. Girdler 2/2
HT Score: Berlin 30-0
PoM Points: Sammy El Hajij 3, Justin Holbrook 2, and Rinat Chamsoutdinov 1.

Cairns are the only RSC side to survive through to the third round of the Bob Fulton Cup, after today accounting for invitational side, Glasgow, 18-14 in an entertaining clash. Still on a high after last week's emphatic win over Penrith, Cairns were aided in victory by the superior goal kicking of Michael Gordon.
Cairns: Nick Youngquest 2 and Marshal Dalton. Gordon 3/5
Glasgow: Aaron Douglas, Marty Turner, and Sanjay Roberts. Campbell 1/3
HT Score: Cairns 12-10
PoM Points: Rodney Howe 3, Nick Youngquest 2, and Sanjay Roberts 1.

Canberra have won today's battle of Division Two heavyweights against Tamworth City, 16-4, showing that they'll be a real contender again this season after failing to promote against Perth earlier in the year. Once again the form of Brandon Costin continues to impress.
Canberra: Ben Hornby, Scott Donald, and Sean Towers. Towers 2/3
Tamworth City: Tyler Durden. Davidson 0/1
HT Score: Canberra 6-4
PoM Points: Brandon Costin 3, Casey McGuire 2, and Sean Towers 1.

Carnarvon continue their impressive run of form leading into their first ever Division Two season, the Grizzlies winning a nail-biting clash against Redlands today despite a virtuouso performance from Redlands' Bobby Young. The Grizzlies won 18-14, with Young scoring every single Rhino point.
Carnarvon: Stephen O'Reilly 2 and Luke Swain. Luana 3/3
Redlands: Bobby Young 2. Young 3/3
HT Score: Redlands 12-6
PoM Points: Bobby Young 3, Steven Wild 2, and Barry Muir 1.

If anyone doubted Capetown's credentials following last week's 28-22 victory over Kensington, the Ravens gave them a harsh wakeup today, humbling Coffs Harbour 40-0 to show that the side is every bit as dangerous as it was in winning last year's premiership. Three players grabbed doubles on the way to the dominant win, with English young gun Derek Gateshead continuing to thrive outside Andrew Johns.
Coffs Harbour: None.
Capetown: Michael Robertson, Martin Gleeson 2, Vinnie Anderson 2, and Derek Gateshead 2. Johns 6/7
HT Score: Capetown 16-0
PoM Points: Derek Gateshead 3, Michael Ennis 2, and Andrew Johns 1.

In a high scoring clash between East Coast and Wellington, the Cougars have withstood a powerful East Coast comeback to record a 44-32 victory over the former New Zealand club. The Cougars lead comfortably at halftime, but had to fight for every point in an exciting, end-to-end second half.
East Coast: Mark Gerrard 2, Shane Rodney, Tony Martin, Chris Joynt, and Chris Hicks. Martin 4/6
Wellington: Jerry Seu Seu 2, Timana Tahu 2, Amos Roberts, Sean O'Loughlin, and Sean Long. Sinfield 8/9
HT Score: Wellington 20-4
PoM Points: Amos Roberts 3, Timana Tahu 2, and Jerry Seu Seu 1.

After an unconvincing victory against Tassie last week, the Gold Coast Crusade have put their foot on the accelerator today in recording a 54-12 thumping of the Hunter Bantams, one of the RSC's finest sides. The Crusade were unstoppable in running in nine tries to two, with the side finding its groove after mass changes threatened to end the Crusade's long run at the top.
Gold Coast: Karl Pratt, Luke Rooney 2, Sione Faumunia, Matt Orford, Tommy O'Reilly 2, and Joel Clinton 2. Farrell 9/10
Hunter: Brad Commins and David Milne. Randall 2/2
HT Score: Gold Coast 24-6
PoM Points: Matthew Gidley 3, Andy Farrell 2, and Matt Orford 1.

Hawthorn couldn't even get across the line in their match today against the Fairfield Stallions, their only points coming from the boot of Toori Tatu in an 18-4 loss to the Sydney based side. Whilst Scott Magro was strangely quiet, it didn't disrupt Fairfield's form, the side never troubled by the Hurricanes.
Hawthorn: None. Tatu 2/2
Fairfield: Stuart Kelly and Slick Cupples. Magro 5/5
HT Score: Fairfield 6-0
PoM Points: Stuart Kelly 3, Terry O'Connor 2, and David Hodgson 1.

A faultless second half from Surfers Paradise has seen the Punks avoid an embarassing elimination at the hands of Liverpool, who shocked the Queensland side when they lead 14-12 at halftime. The Punks rallied after a scrappy first half, and scored two second half tries to get away to a 24-12 victory.
Liverpool: Gus McCrae and Steve Georgalis. March 3/3
Surfers Paradise: Paul Deacon, Monty Betham, Paul Reilly, and Anton Oliver. Deacon 4/4
HT Score: Liverpool 14-12
PoM Points: Keith Senior 3, Paul Reilly 2, and Anton Oliver 1.

A week after their upset 12-0 victory over Melbourne saw them through to the next round of competition, North Queensland have been sent packing with an identical scoreline put on them by the visiting Adelaide Attitude. Whilst the Attitude's offense was far from perfect, they were defensively infallible.
North Queensland: None.
Adelaide: Matt Giteau and Chris Latham. Apokalips 2/2
HT Score: Adelaide 12-0
PoM Points: David Raimes 3, Doug Howlett 2, and Red Apokalips 1.

The form of Trent Pariah continues to stun opposition sides, the goal kicking winner a star in Northern's narrow 20-16 victory over a reshaped New England side. The Ferrets shifted centres Matt Cooper and De Wet Barry into the back row, and very nearly upset the lethargic Cannons- who got home on Pariah's superior goalkicking.
Northern: Trent Pariah, Frederick Michalak, and Chev Walker. Pariah 4/5
New England: Matt Cooper, De Wet Barry, and Mick Ward. Briers 2/3
HT Score: Northern 8-6
PoM Points: Trent Pariah 3, Matt Cooper 2, and Mick Ward 1.

Perth continued their impressive and unprecedented buildup to the 2005 season today with a strong 26-16 win over Eastwood, the Taipans in control in the second half thanks to some brilliant playmaking from Darwin import, Jonny Wilkinson. The Pumas' late try saved face, but it was all Perth after a tight first half.
Perth: Willie Beaman, Torsten Fiedler, Jonny Wilkinson, Tasesa Lavea, and Willie Mason. Wilkinson 3/6
Eastwood: Reece Simmonds and Daniel Vickerman. Burrow 4/4
HT Score: Perth 10-8
PoM Points: Jonny Wilkinson 3, Tasesa Lavea 2, and Tony Puletua 1.

The Sydney Oilers are staring down a new tournament record of most consecutive games without conceding a point, after the Oilers today failed to leak a single point in a 38-0 drubbing of Ryde. Whilst not as powerful as the side's 64-0 victory over Colombo this week, the win gives the Oilers a remarkable 102-0 margin in their first two games of the tournament, cementing them as contenders for the tournament.
Sydney: Jason Robinson, Craig Gower, Craig Wing 2, Oliver Magne, and Sonny-Bill Williams 2. Gower 5/8
Ryde: None.
PoM Points: Ben Kennedy 3, Craig Gower 2, and Craig Wing 1.

A try in the third minute of extra time to unknown hooker Smeds Stahl has allowed Wagga to score a tremendous upset and down Central Coast 16-10 in today's clash between contender and minnow. Wagga's coach had virtually ruled out winning through to the third round, but tenacious defence had the scoreline level at 10 all after eighty mintutes- with Stahl's try the gamebreaker.
Wagga: James Rowles and Smeds Stahl 2. Rowles 2/2
Central Coast: James Manson and Stuart Fielden. El Masri 1/2
HT Score: Central Coast 10-0
PoM Points: Jamie Fitzgerald 3, Michael Korkidas 2, and Smeds Stahl 1.

New Waikato coach Rabbitoh Bill has been treated to a strong first up win by his side, the Breakers downing long time rivals (and Premier League hopefuls) Hawkesbury today, 26-12. The Breakers were dominant in the second half, after a first half showed that the sides would be hard to separate.
Waikato: Andre Bowen, Trevor McCracken, and Serge Betson 2. Paul 5/5
Hawkesbury: Shane Millard and Brett Howland. Ahmed 2/2
HT Score: Waikato 8-6
PoM Points: Trevor McCracken 3, Henry Paul 2, and Shane Millard 1.

Round three of the Bob Fulton Cup promises to be an absolutely mouth-watering experience, with a number of thrillers set to take place. Games three, four, and five pit Premier League heavyweights against one another- whilst all but game six should be real contests.

1- Canberra Chargers vs. Wagga Badgers @ Bruce Stadium
2- Berlin Warlords vs. Surfers Paradise Punks @ Olympic Park
3- Gold Coast Crusade vs. Northern Cannons @ Carara Stadium
4- Capetown Ravens vs. Perth Taipans @ Newlands
5- Sydney Oilers vs. Wellington Cougars @ Telstra Stadium
6- Wollongong Destructors vs. Cairns White Pointers @ WIN Stadium
7- Fairfield Stallions vs. Carnarvon Grizzlies @ Fairfield Showground
8- Waikato Breakers vs. Adelaide Attitude @ Waikato Stadium

A worrying performence at adelaide but at the end of the day we were happy to escpae with the win. We will need an improved effort to get through next week against rabbitohbill's waikato.

I'll say. Now this club has a decent coach, I dunno if there will be any stopping the breakers. :rock:

BTW, are trades &/ or the pool still open for trades?