It was a complete whitewash for the Tarsha Gale Newcastle Knights on Saturday morning, as they comfortably took a 92-4 win against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in their Round 3 match at Maitland No.1 Sportsground.
With three doubles and a hat-trick from the Knights, the red and blues never looked in trouble as they recorded a stunning 88-point victory.
A strong run by Eleanor Russell put the Knights 30 metres from the line before a couple of smart plays landed the ball back in her hands as she crossed over out wide for the home side to take the early lead, 4-0.
Soon after Emily Harman dodged a pack of defenders 60 metres out to sprint to the line and record Newcastle’s second. Sophie Buller nailed the conversion in front to extend the lead 10-0.
The Knights kept the momentum via Caitlan Johnson who was next to score a try, which sent them into quarter time, 14-0 in-front.
In the second quarter, Olivia Glanville was on the board before Buller found a gap 20 metres out to accelerate to the line before Skye Pullman showed impressive speed to break free on the right edge to cross over. Buller was handy with the boot and kicked her fourth conversion.
Soon after Russell came up with a double with a stunning length of the field try, Johnston added the extras to push the Knights' lead to 38-0, before it was Tazmyne Luschwitz’s turn as she crossed over.
The Knights went into the half time break leading 44-0.
After the break, Olivia Kernick side stepped her way to the line, with Johnson to finish it off before a pinpoint offload by Johnson landed in the hands of Harmony Liddell. Johnson made it four from four conversions to extend the lead further, to 56-0.
Pullman came up with the double through a gap in defence and converted her own try before the Bulldogs got on the board via Sinead Sio. The Knights lead 62-4 at three-quarter time.
Another double, this time from Glanville who crossed over for the red and blue before Pullman belted a tricky conversion from the right sideline.
From the next kick-off, the Knights took control as Johnston recorded the double and converted her own try for the Knights to lead 74-4.
Bree O’Neill crossed over shortly after for Newcastle before Pullman easily used her speed to cross over for the hat-trick and it was an 86-4 ball game.
Just before the final siren, Joeli Morris dodged her way to the line. Buller added the extras to give the Knights a resounding 92-4 victory.
SUMMARY
Knights 92 (T: Russell 2, Harman, Johnson 2, Glanville 2, Buller, Pullman 3, Luschwitz, Kernick, Liddell, O’Neill, Morris, G: Buller 5/6, Pullman 1/3, Johnston 7/7)
Bulldogs 4 (T: Sio, G: Gregorio 0/1)
TEAM
1. Joeli Morris, 2. Emily Harman, 3. Jasmin Strange, 4. Skye Pullman, 5. Eleanor Russell, 6. Tazmyne Luschwitz, 8. Harmony Liddell, 10. Sophie Buller, 12. Caitlan Johnston. Interchange: 7. Janiyah Brown, 9. Olivia Glanville, 11. Olivia Kernick, 13. Georgie Smith, 14. Bree O’Neill.
