Reserve Grade - NSW Cup - Round 7

v Balmain-Ryde Eastwood, North Sydney Oval, Sun Apr 27 3:00pm

WIN 42-16

North Sydney beat Balmain Ryde-Eastwood 42-16 for their seventh consecutive win of the season at North Sydney Oval on Sunday. The Bears scored nine tries to Balmain's three. "We're playing very attractive football," coach Wayne Lambkin said. "Our wingers Nathanael Barnes and John Tamanika scored three tries each." The unbeaten Bears lead the NSW Cup ladder by three points. Lambkin compared the Bears' comeback from last season's grand final defeat to the Melbourne Storm's resurgence after their NRL grand final loss to the Broncos in 2006. The Bears' impressive record this season has not only boosted confidence within the club but has spread to the fans. "It's funny we played at Parramatta the other week and there were more Norths and Souths supporters than there were Parramatta fans," Lambkin said. "And there were more great red and black turnouts for our games against Newtown and Balmain. "Our fans don't come to our games wondering if we are going to win anymore. "They come expecting us to win and that's good for us." The Bears have a bye this weekend before facing Auckland at home in two weeks. "The bye is definitely a good thing we played on Sunday with four players out because of injuries so it'll give everyone a chance to freshen up," Lambkin said.

Dean Widders yesterday revealed he took the unusual step of dumping himself to the NSW Cup in a bid to rediscover his form. And after scoring a try in North Sydney's 42-16 thumping of Balmain, Widders feels he is ready to return to the NRL and help the Bunnies reignite their embarrassing attack. The 28-year-old back-rower said he approached Souths coach Jason Taylor more than a fortnight ago to speak about stepping down from the winless Bunnies. "I wanted to come back (to the NSW Cup) because I wanted to get some confidence and get my hand on the ball a bit more," Widders said. "I was able to get plenty of touches today and I was happy with my work in attack. "I was really disappointed with the way I was playing at Souths, especially when it came to giving the side attacking options. "It's a shame because the inexperienced halves keep getting belted (in the press) but it should be the senior blokes like myself that should be taking the pressure off them." Widders said he was hungry to play football again following his brief two-game stint at Norths.

      4-0
      8-0
      8-4
     12-4
     16-4
HT   22-4
     28-4
     32-4
     32-10
     36-10
     36-16
     42-16

Barnes 3, Tamanika 3, Y.Gordon, Simpson, Widders tries
Herekotukutuku 2 from 2, Nichols 1 from 6, 0 from 1 Barnes goals

Final Line Up
                                T  G/A  FG
Flbk - Wara, Samu               -  -     -
Wing - Barnes, Nathaniel        3  -/1   -
Cntr - Nichols, Greg            -  1/6   -
Cntr - Simpson, Jamie           1  -     -
Wing - Tamanika, John           3  -     -
5/8  - Herekotukutuku, Charlie  -  2/2   -
Half - Smith, Jeremy            -  -     -
Prop - Sayegh, Daniel           -  -     -
Hook - Falloon, Beau            -  -     -
Prop - Verlinden, Ryan          -  -     -
SRow - Gordon, Yileen           1  -     -
SRow - Ben, Lowe                -  -     -
Lock - Widders, Dean            1  -     -

Int  - Dalton, Sean             -  -     -
Int  - Wynyard, Dave            -  -     -
Int  - Koborsi, John            -  -     -
Int  - Corrigan, Shaune         -  -     -

                                9  3/9   -

Other Reserve Grade Matches

NYC Toyota Cup - Under 20's - Round 7

v Brisbane, 5:30pm

WIN 28-16

Huihahau 2, Trotter, Sandow, Nathan tries
Sandow 4 from 5 goals

Other U20 Matches

NSWRL U18 SG Ball Cup - Round 11

v Balmain, Erskenville Oval, Sat Apr 26 11:30am

WIN 36-26

Other U18 Matches

50-16 Ring Illawarra  b W Syd Academy
26-22 Ende Cronulla   b Penrith
46-4  Robi Gold Coast b Bulldogs
64-22 Seif Canberra   b Newcastle
30-30 NSO  Norths     d St George
42-12 Brok Syd Rsters b Manly
62-6  Kanw Parramatta b C Coast
BYE        Wests

NSWRL U16 Harold Mathews Cup - Round 11

v Balmain, 10:00am

WIN 44-10

 tries
 goals

Other U16 Matches

24-22 Ring Illawarra  b W Syd Academy
62-6  Ende Penrith    b Cronulla
38-12 Camp Bulldogs   b SW Syd Academy
32-24 Seif Newcastle  b Canberra
38-22 NSO  Norths     b St George
30-22 Brok Syd Rsters b Manly
46-18 Kanw Parramatta b Central Coast
BYE        Wests