Sydney Juniors beat ACT 31-25; 5 tries to 3. Few players out (forwards) injured/sickness. Bit scrappy.
Sydney Juniors lacked ruthlessness in this game, never really taking the opposition out of the game. They created more opportunities that were not turned into points, against a team I am guessing we're playing to win. (Based on the ACT choice to take some long range penalty goal options, not all of which were converted)
Sydney looked very much as though it was a pre-season match that had to be endured.
Each time Sydney scored they allowed a response in kind that meant the opposition was never more then 8 behind. The Sydney try on full time would have done little to discourage the ACT players from believing they are within reach of what may have been considered an unlikely win in the first round of the nationals in two weeks.
The return of the rested players may assist in putting a little more steel in the Sydney spine, if not add more than 30kg to the pack
To answer Sam Hauser, if NSW and Sydney play to their potential you could have a rewriting of the "gebung polo club" where the game is so even neither would gain the lead. Sydney should have the stronger pack and will be benefitted if they end up with a week of rain timed as well as the Knox weekend and the metropolitan zones.
If they play to their potential and not like Sunday.
I think Country lost ground last year with players heading to Qld, NSW and Sydney