A Crown Casino Risk interrupted round twenty four got underway with just three premier league games, but they couldn't have been better picked if it were intentional. Heading the list is the top of the table clash between Gold Coast and Wellington - Gold Coast's minor premiership on the line due to Northern's bye. Wollongng and Capetown likewise have plenty at stake as they vie for position in the top eight - and Hornsby vs. Auckland could decide either side's relegation fate.

PREMIER LEAGUE
Auckland have effectively and emphatically ended speculation that they may fold at season's end, the Pirates running riot in front of a dismayed Hornsby crowd today on their way to a 56-14 victory. Hornsby are now all but assured of playing the wildcard game to avoid relegation.
Hornsby: Willie Tonga, Dean Widders, and Iain Morrison. Roff 1/3
Auckland: Graham Bond 4, David Simmons, Ben Tune, Shane Mongta, Rachid Hechiche, Nathan Sharpe, Ricardo, and Carl Hayman. Hezgoodaba 6/11
HT Score: Auckland 34-8
Penalties: Hornsby 6-4
Completion Rates: Hornsby 44% Auckland 62%
Possession: Auckland 60%
PoM Points: Anthony Farrell 3, Graham Bond 2, and David Simmons 1.

The clash between Capetown and Wollongong has gone right down to the wire, giving fans a preview of what to expect in the finals as the home side scraped out a 26-24 victory over Wollongong to continue their chase for a top four berth.
Capetown: Paul Whatuira 2, Matt Diskin, Kevan Mealamu, and Radike Samo. Way 3/5
Wollongong: Brett Hodgson, Seamus O'Grady, and Richie Mathers. Hodgson 6/6
HT Score: Capetown 22-10
Penalties: Wollongong 11-8
Completion Rates: Capetown 64% Wollongong 61%
Possession: Wollongong 51%
PoM Points: Paul Whatuira 3, Radike Samo 2, and Brett Hodgson 1.

Gold Coast have ensured that Northern's run at the top was short lived, the Crusade putting Wellington to the sword 50-22 to reclaim their place atop the Premier League table. Hyped as a potential grand final preview, the game was claimed by the Crusade in a dominant second half after what had been a hard fought first stanza.
Gold Coast: Ade Gardner, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Johns 2, Steve Southern, and Ben Kennedy 3. Johns 9/9
Wellington: Brent Webb, Keiron Cunningham, and Nigel Vagana. Tai 5/5
HT Score: 14 all
Penalties: Wellington 9-5
Completion Rates: Gold Coast 68% Wellington 63%
Possession: Gold Coast 54%
PoM Points: Andrew Johns 3, Ben Kennedy 2, and Tommy O'Reilly 1.

Interesting round there, good to see Wellington flogged btw

I know, it warms my heart

I couldn't really lose in that game. I either had top two cemented, or I moved towards the minor premiership. The result was a bit disconcerting though. Glad I wouldn't meet you until the GF... assuming.

Haha, I shit myself when I saw the result. Was expecting a loss based on my recent form

North Queensland have scored a convincing 28-6 victory over top eight hopefuls Port Macquarie in today's clash, ensuring they'll remain in second place regardless of how Tamworth City fare in their must win game against Redfern.
North Queensland: Kris Radlinski, Todd Byrne, Brian O'Keefe 2, and David Frame. Kirchner 4/6
Port Macquarie: Jim Gannon. Briers 1/1
HT Score: North Queensland 18-0
Penalties: 5 all
Completion Rates: North Queensland 73% Port Macquarie 58%
Possession: North Queensland 58%
PoM Points: Michael Wainwright 3, Brian O'Keefe 2, and Craig Bowen 1.

Despite a masterful performance from substitute, Stanley Gene the Redfern All Whites' miraculous run of wins has been brought to a halt in today's game against equally desperate, Tamworth City 16-10.
Tamworth City: Joseph Goldstein, Jermaine Ale, and Anthony Farrah. Bates 2/3
Redfern: Julian O'Neill and Stanley Gene. Dynevor 1/2
HT Score: Tamworth City 16-0
Penalties: Tamworth City 8-7
Completion Rates: Tamworth City 51% Redfern 50%
Possession: Tamworth City 51%
PoM Points: Stanley Gene 3, Jamie Burrows 2, and Eron Bates 1.

Canberra's collpase under the guidance of Michael Sparrow reached a new low today, the fifth placed Chargers humiliated 34-0 by the fourth placed New England Ferrets.
New England: Matt Cooper, De Wet Barry, Daniel Ferris, Kurt Grohl, and Kees Meeuws 2. Ferris 5/6
Canberra: None.
HT Score: New England 12-0
Penalties: Canberra 7-5
Completion Rates: New England 71% Canberra 75%
Possession: New England 55%
PoM Points: De Wet Barry 3, Toori Tatu 2, and Tom Newberry 1.

Tasmania's road to the Premier League seems all but assured, the first placed Devils easily accounting for last placed Waikato 36-6. It was a return to 'form' for Waikato, who last week reversed a run of losses with a surprise victory.
Tasmania: Olivier Sarramea, Jerrie Muller 2, Verity Gunnarsson, and Varasiko Tokarei 2. Burke 6/6
Waikato: Simon Woolford. Geyer 1/1
HT Score: Tasmania 18-0
Penalties: Tasmania 5-3
Completion Rates: Tasmania 61% Waikato 62%
Possession: Tasmania 58%
PoM Points: Matthew Burke 3, Olivier Sarramea 2, and Jerrie Muller 1.

Bondi coach Aaron Downie has had his first taste of defeat, the Battlers suffering a shock 12-10 loss to a determined Lake Heights side today.
Bondi: Matt Sing. Thorman 3/3
Lake Heights: James Grubens and Derek Gateshead. Kempton 2/3
HT Score: Bondi 8-0
Penalties: Lake Heights 8-5
Completion Rates: Bondi 62% Lake Heights 57%
Possession: Lake Heights 51%
PoM Points: Keith Mason 3, Matt Sing 2, and Chris Thorman 1.

In a battle with no bearing on the top eight, Liverpool have scored a 22-12 victory over hapless Christchurch.
Liverpool: Paul Atchison, Tai Lavea, and Patrice Benausse. March 5/7
Christchurch: Gagma and Brett Kimmorley. Rumble 2/2
HT Score: Liverpool 6-0
Penalties: Liverpool 14-6
Completion Rates: Liverpool 80% Christchurch 67%
Possession: Liverpool 57%
PoM Points: Adam Hughes 3, Paul Atchison 2, and Grant Johnston 1.

London bound Campbelltown have given their soon to be English fans a sneak preview of what's in store for 2006, the Invasion easily accounting for South Queensland 24-4 in today's clash.
Campbelltown: Tony Martin 2, Chris Walker, Trent Barrett, and Garrett Crossman. Martin 2/5
South Queensland: Bobby Young. Allianya Takawira 0/1
HT Score: Campbelltown 10-0
Penalties: Campbelltown 11-7
Completion Rates: Campbelltown 73% South Queensland 67%
Possession: Campbelltown 59%
PoM Points: Tony Martin 3, Trent Barrett 2, and Chris Walker 1.

bummer the All Whites now look gone, Campbelltown now have the fight for a spot in the 8 to themselves - go the invaders!

Current tables, pre-Risk results

PREMIER LEAGUE
Team W L D For Against +/- Points
1 Gold Coast 19 4 1 780 371 409 39
2 Northern 19 5 0 638 318 320 38
3 Wellington 17 7 0 623 439 184 34
4 Central 16 8 0 552 480 72 32
5 Capetown 15 9 0 625 388 227 30
6 Sydney 14 9 0 531 355 186 28
7 Melbourne 13 10 1 453 411 42 27
8 Wollongong 13 11 0 572 413 159 26

9 Darwin 12 11 0 463 469 -6 24
10 Brisbane 12 12 0 424 435 -11 24
11 Parramatta 12 12 0 405 496 -91 24
12 Central Coast 11 12 0 485 408 77 22
13 Adelaide 11 13 0 486 442 44 22
14 Surfers Paradise 11 12 0 448 534 -86 22
15 Auckland 7 17 0 356 653 -297 14 *
16 Perth 6 17 0 354 666 -312 12 *
17 Hornsby 4 20 0 294 771 -477 8 *
18 Wagga 3 20 0 330 688 -358 6 *

Teams with an asterisk cannot make the finals

DIVISION TWO
Team W L D For Against +/- Points
1. Tasmania 21 2 1 728 276 +452 43
2. North Queensland 19 4 1 557 323 +234 39
3. Tamworth City 19 3 1 573 356 +217 39
4. New England 18 5 1 586 335 +251 37
5. Canberra 13 10 1 516 480 +36 27
6. Bondi 13 10 1 450 431 +19 27
7. Port Macquarie 11 10 3 413 484 -71 25
8. Carnarvon 12 11 0 413 386 +27 24

9. Campbelltown 12 12 0 434 472 -38 24
10. Redfern 10 13 1 466 433 +33 21
11. Eastwood 9 13 2 441 518 -77 20
12. Liverpool 9 14 1 392 583 -191 19 *
13. Newcastle 8 14 2 395 450 -55 18 *
14. Lake Heights 8 14 2 429 518 -89 18 *
15. South Queensland 8 15 1 323 521 -198 17 *
16. Christchurch 7 16 1 365 478 -113 15 *
17. Geelong 5 17 1 324 498 -174 11 *
18. Waikato 4 20 0 366 629 -263 8 *

Teams with an asterisk cannot make the finals

well that strategy i tried is out the window.

Which match???

not the waikato one.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Target kicking? Who do you take me for, Magro!?

hehe, shhhhhhhhhh! magro doesn't know.

Can we get an updated ladder with the CCR points distributed?

Depends, do you feel like adding 3 points to Surfers, 2 points to Darwin, and 1 point to you?

PREMIER LEAGUE
Team W L D For Against +/- Points
1 Gold Coast 19 4 1 780 371 409 39
2 Northern 19 5 0 638 318 320 38
3 Wellington 17 7 0 623 439 184 34
4 Central 16 8 0 552 480 72 32
5 Capetown 15 9 0 625 388 227 30
6 Sydney 14 9 0 531 355 186 28
7 Melbourne 13 10 1 453 411 42 27
8 Wollongong 13 11 0 572 413 159 26

9 Darwin 12 11 0 463 469 -6 26
10 Surfers Paradise 11 12 0 448 534 -86 25
11 Brisbane 12 12 0 424 435 -11 24
12 Parramatta 12 12 0 405 496 -91 24
13 Central Coast 11 12 0 485 408 77 23
14 Adelaide 11 13 0 486 442 44 22
15 Auckland 7 17 0 356 653 -297 14 *
16 Perth 6 17 0 354 666 -312 12 *
17 Hornsby 4 20 0 294 771 -477 8 *
18 Wagga 3 20 0 330 688 -358 6 *