The sun came out for our fans on Sunday, making for a lovely afternoon at Bear Park that was topped off with a 30–22 victory over the Parramatta Eels. The Bears led 14–12 at half-time before pulling away in the second half, scoring three more tries to finish the match eight points clear. With the win, the Bears have secured top spot on the ladder and now sit on an impressive 38 competition points accumulated throughout the season. Their position at the top of the ladder is a reflection of the consistency, hard work and determination shown by the team throughout the year. However, the job is far from finished, with the Bears continuing to push towards the ultimate goal as the season enters its final stages.

The Bears started off strong on Sunday with an early try in the 11th minute to Ammaron Gudgeon. The try saw speed from Abiarthur Toi Tuileapa on the wing, who ran the ball down towards the Fig Tree end before offloading to Gudgeon, who was able to secure the ball and get it down safely. The Eels responded in the 21st minute, but Toi Tuileapa proved his skills once again, securing the pass from Matt Stimson and diving into the right-hand corner to score. Joshua Cook continued to prove his talent and scored an important try in the 37th minute, right before half-time. The try saw him sidestep the Eels defence and accelerate through the line to score right under the posts. With a narrow lead heading into the sheds at half-time, the Bears stepped up in the second half and scored three more tries. A kick and chase from Kieran Hayman saw him perfectly gather the football and show complete composure to score in the 54th minute. Further tries to Gudgeon and Ethyn Martin, who both illustrated speed and a strong ability to read the play, saw the Bears secure the win and claim the two competition points.

Despite having just 41% possession compared with Parramatta’s 59%, the Bears produced an efficient attacking display, recording six line breaks and making 35 tackle breaks. The Bears’ defensive effort was equally impressive, with North Sydney recording an 84.26% effective tackle rate compared with Parramatta’s 80.52%. The side made 332 tackles throughout the contest and continued to defend strongly despite the Eels enjoying the majority of possession.

The result adds another important win to the Bears’ season, with the team now securing six wins in a row. This week, the Bears will travel to Henson Park to face the Jets in Round 25 before returning to Bear Park for their final regular-season match on August 29th. With North Sydney continuing to build momentum heading into the finals, we hope to see as many fans as possible supporting the boys and cheering them on!

Check out the Bears named to pull on a red & black jersey this weekend >>