(Results for rounds nineteen and twenty to follow)
Balmain's Oliver Magne has had another impressive game in this week's clash against Hawthorn, snaring a double in his side's 38-10 thumping of the Hurricanes.
Balmain: David Hodgson, Cooper Vanu, Dean Collis, Chris Heightington, Oliver Magne 2, and Robbie Farah. Pritchard 5/7
Hawthorn: Ben Jeffries. Tatu 3/3
PoM Points: Oliver Magne 3, Robbie Farah 2, and Chris Muckert 1.
Birchgrove's late season form continued today, with the Pistoleers scoring a much needed 24-14 win over Pine Rivers.
Birchgrove: Matt Seers, Phil Graham 2, Alexander Lysenkov, and Chev Walker. Vassilakopoulos 2/6
Pine Rivers: Steve MacNamara and Brett Finn. Dorahy 3/4
PoM Points: Phil Graham 3, Matt Seers 2, and Marcus Vassilakopoulos 1.
Cairns have thumped North West in today's match in the nation's far north, the 42-10 win casting some serious doubts over a Kookaburras side that looked like a contender not so long ago.
Cairns: Brendan Worth, Claude Sirvent 2, Michael Gordon, Paul Highton 3, and Steve Simmons. Gordon 5/8
North West: Martin Kanyon. Ferris 3/3
PoM Points: Michael Gordon 3, Paul Highton 2, and Claude Sirvent 1.
Sunshine Coast continue to be the form team of recent weeks, their 34-14 win over Christchurch today affirming that while they don't lead the competition on points, their recent form sees them as favourites for the crown.
Christchurch: David Robbins and John Rovoa. Watts 3/4
Sunshine Coast: Brett Stewart, Sean Penkywicz, Dean Payne, Dustin Cooper, Mark Bryant, and Riley Brown. Campbell 5/6
PoM Points: Riley Brown 3, Mark Bryant 2, and Brett Stewart 1.
The Entrance have slumped to perhaps their most embarassing loss of the season, upset 20-12 by the hapless Kandy Jesters.
Kandy: Mark O'Halloren, Frederic Teixedo, and Brorten Levy. Ross 4/4
The Entrance: Romeo Magro and Craig Simmons. Riddle 2/2
PoM Points: Romeo Magro 3, Frederic Teixedo 2, and Brorten Levy 1.
While Adelaide's run of decent form has the bulk of local attention, Kensington continued on their winning ways in today's game against Port Kembla. The Highrollers proved too strong in a 32-8 pounding.
Port Kembla: Jaime Soward. Thomas 2/3
Kensington: Rich Portale, Lenny Beckett, Bill Rhyven, Scott Staniforth, and John Wilson. Opan 6/6
PoM Points: Mohammed Wally Abass 3, Howard Opan 2, and Lenny Beckett 1.
In a battle between two sides not expected to survive to see the 2005 season, Souths have scored a 26-14 win over the Rabaul Rangers. With both sides set to fold at season's end, fans in Papua New Guinea flocked to see their side play.
Rabaul: Tim Jonkers and Pinomi Tafaea. Bennet 3/3
Souths: Sema Metora, Michael Fairweather, Jacob Lillyman, Heathcliffe Lawrence, and Todd Polglase. Rangihuna 3/6
PoM Points: Darren Bennet 3, Heathcliffe Lawrence 2, and Michael Fairweather 1.
Ryde continue to be as unpredictable as nature itself, today humbling high flying Hunter 48-12 to continue their recent run of high scoring football.
Ryde: Brent Grose, Karl Fitzpatrick, Nate Smith 2, Simon Cooke, Alex Moore, and Chris Motu 2. Smith 8/9
Hunter: Chad Randall and Andy Smith. Watts 2/2
PoM Points: Chris Motu 3, Alex Moore 2, and Nate Smith 1.
Gisborne continue to scale the RSC ladder following today's 22-12 win over former RSC heavyweights, Wests.
Wests: Luke Doherty and Brenton Bowen. Bowen 1/1. Barba 1/2
Gisborne: James Evans, Adrian Mirhalov, and Chuck Randall 2. Melling 3/4
PoM Points: Adrian Mirhalov 3, Chuck Randall 2, and Jake Luana 1.
