Rugby League: Draw in extra time NRL first

SYDNEY - The Sydney Roosters shaded the Canterbury Bulldogs at the top of the National Rugby League points table after a round which featured the first extra-time draw.

The Roosters and Bulldogs are both on 16 points, but the Roosters have a 70 points differential in their favour to give them the competition lead.

Penrith, who had the bye this weekend, are two points behind.

Neither South Sydney nor North Queensland could break the deadlock after the 10 minutes of extra time in their clash at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday night, so both took a competition point each from their 20-all draw.

The NRL introduced the golden point rule last season for games ending 80 minutes of regular time in a draw.

The first team to score during extra time wins the game, and the excitement was evident when the Newcastle Knights edged ahead of Brisbane with a golden field goal to clinch victory on Friday night.

But the Rabbitohs and Cowboys just focused on retaining possession during extra time, neither willing to chance their arm. However, the draw was a welcome boost for the Rabbitohs, who have only won two from nine this season.

The Broncos-Knights clash on Friday night was the round's most thrilling, with Kurt Gidley breaking the stalemate with a streaky field goal in extra time to give the Knights a 17-16 win at Suncorp Stadium.

The Knights, stood out for their brilliant defence, while the Broncos attacked powerfully but would rue a few dropped passes at vital stages. The win left both teams on 12 competition points.

Young New Zealander Benji Marshall confirmed his extraordinary promise by having a major hand in Wests Tigers' 26-12 win over the Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown Stadium yesterday.

The 19-year-old could have been forgiven if he was rusty after a month's layoff with a shoulder injury, but made a break in the first minute, and then scored a try 10 minutes later.

The Bulldogs were in ominous form at Win Stadium on Saturday night, thrashing St George Illawarra 38-12. Winger Hazem El Masri finished with 17 points from a try and seven goals from as many attempts, keeping his kicking success rate over 90 per cent this season.

The Roosters were too tough for the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Park on Saturday night, though the Sharks did reduce their deficit to eight points with just eight minutes to go before a late rally saw a 38-18 Roosters win.

The Storm broke two straight losses with a 36-16 win over Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium yesterday. The game featured a 75m scorching try to Storm centre Steven Bell, as the Storm moved into the top eight. They are on 10 points with the Tigers, Dragons, Eels and Raiders.

The Cowboys are on nine, the Sharks and Sea Eagles eight, the Rabbitohs seven and the Warriors six.

- NZPA

NRL points table and fixtures