CANBERRA RAIDERS
GAME 1
PARRAMATTA EELS
25
Friday, 21st of May 1999
12
Tries
Referee : Tim Mander
Tries
A McFadden 2
Venue : Parramatta Eels
M Tookey (penalty try)
B Pearson
Crowd : 17,387
I Hindmarsh
M McLinden
Half Time : 12-2 Canberra
Goals
Goals
L Williamson 4/5 - 1 Field Goal
L Burt 2/3
COMMENTS : This was one of the most bizarre games you were ever likely to see. There were 3 things that stood out. 1. Mark Tookey was diving for the line and looked certain to score before a Raider player stripped him of the ball. The decision went to the referee and a penalty try was awarded. The first one for several years. 2. At a crucial point in the match, Clinton Schifcoske tries to knock a ball back into play accidently fearing that it was a 40-20 kick. Instead, he knocks the ball into play and into the arms of Brandon Pearson, who scores besides the posts. 3. Andrew McFadden scores a sensational try by chipping ahead, regathering, and then showed more soccer skills by chipping ahead again and winning the race for the ball. It was a sad night for Parramatta and their fans. Smith was sorely missed, and the team seemed to have fumble fingers and brain explosions all night. It's one game that they'll want to forget. Meanwhile, Canberra player well even without Daley, and McFadden should have been awarded the Man of the Match ahead of McLinden, but both played extremely well. McLinden really shows his class when he gets to play his preferred position of 5/8, but will have to wait for the Lozza to stand down before he grabs it.

ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
GAME 2
BALMAIN TIGERS
48
Saturday, 22nd of May 1999
8
Tries
Referee : Bill Harrigan
Tries
N Blacklock 2
Venue : WIN Stadium
S Walker
M Coyne
Crowd : 11,120
D Treacy
Half Time : 12-2 St.George-Illawarra
W Patten
  
W Bartrim
N Brown
R Wishart
Goals
Goals
W Bartrim 6/6
  
J Caine 1/1
R Wishart 2/2
S Nevin 1/1
COMMENTS : Balmain couldn't take advantage of Mundine being out, and were slaughtered by a well drilled team who thrive on confidence. After leading 12-2 at half time, the Dragons went on with the game scoring freely and finding gaps through the Tigers continuously. Blacklock was impressive for the Dragons, as well as Patten and Wishart off the bench. Goal-kicking was perfect and overall, the Dragons would have gone home humming to themselves. The Tigers? Well, they are starting to slip, after some impressive games during the season. Craig Field hasn't been as much of a force as the Tigers would like. They'll have to prove themselves against the Bears next week.

WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES
GAME 3
PENRITH PANTHERS
7
Saturday, 22nd of May 1999
6
Tries
Referee : Sean Hampstead
Tries
B Davis
Venue : Parramatta Stadium
J Cross
Goals
Crowd : 5,087
Goals
B Hodgson 1/2
Half Time : 6-0 Western Suburbs
C Hicks 1/2
L Dynevor 1 Field Goal
    
COMMENTS : The Panthers beat the Magpies 60-6 in Round 3 this season. It was hard to see Wests even coming close to the Panthers even though they had several players on Origin duty. But close they came, and with some guts, determination and a parochial crowd of 5000 people behind them, the Maggies got up to beat the 3rd placed Panthers by one point. Thanks to a Leo Dynevor Field Goal 8 minutes before full-time, the Magpies won their 2nd game of the season and really deserved it with some tough and gritty football. Their defence held out the classy Panthers backs, and the forwards matched them all day.

THE SHARKS
GAME 4
NORTH SYDNEY BEARS
21
Sunday, 23rd of May 1999
20
Tries
Referee : Steven Clark
Tries
D Triester
Venue : Shark Park
B Dallas
M Healey
Crowd : 10,643
G Morrison
A Pierce
Half Time : 12-4 North Sydney
J Wilson
D Peachey
  
Goals
Goals
B Stanley 2/2
  
J Taylor 4/5
M Healey 0/4
COMMENTS : Norths deserved to win this game, and it will be one that the Sharks should feel lucky to have gotten 2 points from. Not only were the Bears leading for parts of the game, but a Ettingshausen body shot on Soden, allowed Healey to get away the game winning field goal, 1 minute from full-time. Soden claims that ET deliberately diverted his path to knock Soden onto his back. Referee Clark claims that he didn't see it and it seems that all the judges were watching the drop-kick. It was a rough and tumble game and the Bears played classy football with Buettner standing out in attack. Peachey rubbed his form into the NSW selectors noses with a Man of the Match performance, whilst Healey also played well. The Bears have now lost 6 on the trot and slipped to 12th on the ladder. They are returning to good ol' North Sydney oval for a anniversary of the first ever televised game against the Tigers next weekend.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
GAME 5
AUCKLAND WARRIORS
28
Sunday, 23rd of May 1999
24
Tries
Referee : Paul Simpkins
Tries
J Feeney
Venue : Stadium Australia
A Lauiti'iti
S Hughes
Crowd : 9,062
S Jones
C Hughes
Half Time : 18-12 Canterbury
S Endacott
Goals
Goals
D Halligan 6/7
C Doherty 4/4
COMMENTS : The Bulldogs deserved their victory, but the Warriors were impressive all day, fighting back on several occassions to give the Bulldogs a scare that could have resulted in an upset. The effort was paricularly impressive as the Warriors had to make exactly 100 more tackled than their opposition, plus had a 9-2 penalty count against them. Best for the Bulldogs were Barry Ward and debutante Jamie Feeny, scoring 2 tries in his first first grade game. Robert Mears was the best for the Warriors playing against his former club.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
GAME 6
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
27
Sunday, 23rd of May 1999
4
Tries
Referee : Brian Grant
Tries
J Loomans
Venue : Sydney Football Stadium
J Holbrook
T Iro
Crowd : 10,267
L Patten
Half Time : 10-0 South Sydney
J Smith
  
Goals
Goals
J O'Neill 5/6
J Holbrook 0/1
D Trindall 1 Field Goal
    
COMMENTS : Souths were all over the Knights from the start and played with tremendous heart and in the end, class. Tricky Trindall once again lead his troops with an impressive display, whilst Tim Brasher and Jason Nichol were also standouts. Mark Carroll was hoping to clash with his old sparring partner in the Chief Harrogan, however The Chief had to pull out shortly before the game with his chronic knee problem. Carroll didn't let his explosive power go to waste however with a huge hit on David Lomax 17 seconds into the game. Lomax was knocked unconscious and played no further part in the game. The Rabbits outplayed the Knights ll over the park and deserved their victory. Adam MacDougall made a successful return from his 22 week suspension, and even though he needed some oxygen at half-time through lack of match practice, he was the Knights best.