Junior Report: Round 5 and Round 9
Storm's Jersey Flegg and SG Ball both travelled to Sydney over the weekend to face off with their respective opponents Penrith and Sharks, while Harold Matthews hosted the Raiders at Broadmeadows.
Jersey Flegg (U21)
Melbourne’s U21 side travelled to Penrith to face the top-of-the-ladder Panthers. It was a tightly contested match, with Penrith leading 14-10 at halftime.
In the second half, Penrith extended their lead by scoring the first try, putting pressure on Melbourne. However, Storm kept their composure and worked their way back into the game. Mitchell Jennings scored a crucial try, and Storm went on to score the next three tries of the game, securing a hard-fought 20-30 victory. The win means they’re the only undefeated team and outright leaders of the competition after five rounds.
Nicolas Stonestreet, Blake Kehl, and Stanley Huen were standout performers in the second half, with all three scoring important tries to help seal the win.
Melbourne's Jersey Flegg side will look to continue their strong form this weekend when they play in the curtain-raiser at AAMI Park on Sunday at 11:30am against South Sydney.
Match: Panthers v Storm
Round 5 -
home Team
Panthers
2nd Position
away Team
Storm
1st Position
Venue: Parker Street Reserve, Penrith
SG Ball (U19)
Storm's U19 side travelled to Shark Park on the weekend to face Cronulla. The game started off tough for Melbourne, who found themselves trailing 30-0 at half-time.
The team came out in the second half much stronger, scoring six tries and putting themselves in a position to win the game. However, the clock wasn’t on their side, and they were narrowly defeated 40-36.
Cooper Clarke and Lockyer-Azile Foliola both played key roles, scoring two tries each in the second half. Riley Brannock also contributed with 100% conversion accuracy, playing a crucial part in Melbourne's comeback.
In positive news, the U19s have secured a finals berth, finishing eighth on the ladder. They will face the Illawarra Steelers in the elimination semi-final this Sunday at 2:30pm at Collegians Sports Stadium in Wollongong.
Match: Sharks v Storm
Round 9 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Storm
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Harold Matthews (U17)
Melbourne’s U17 side hosted the Canberra Raiders last Saturday for their final game of the season. It was a tough outing, as the team fell to a strong Raiders side 38-20.
Despite the loss, Storm showed some strong passages of play, highlighting the talent in the squad and their continued development throughout the year.
Unfortunately, the U17s will not feature in the finals this season.
Match: Storm v Raiders
Round 9 -
home Team
Storm
away Team
Raiders
Venue: Seabrook Reserve, Broadmeadows
