Bears ‘Gonged On Trip South
By DAVID ROWLANDS
NORTH SHORE TIMES - 9/6/2004

The trip south was anything but pleasant for North Sydney’s two rugby league teams on Saturday, as they were both soundly beaten.

The Premier League surrendered their fifth straight match when they lost to St George Illawarra 44-12 at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium.

“They just outclassed us in the end,” Norths general manager Greg Florimo said. “The NRL class and match-fitness gets us every week.

“Everyone tried hard and it was an improvement on recent games, but they were bigger and more mobile.”

Florimo was far from pleased with the Jersey Flegg team’s offering, as they lost to ifiawarra, 46-8.

After mounting sustained pressure for the opening 10 minutes, the Steelers stole a 90-metre intercept try that proved deflating for the young Bears, who weren’t in the hunt after that letdown.

“Our heads dropped at that point and I was disappointed with the way we reacted,” Florimo said.

“Before that game, our defence was the fourth best in the comp, so to lose like that was quite insulting.”

After dipping out of the top eight as a consequence, the Bears can regain their spot on Friday night when they host Newcastle, who are ahead of them on the ladder in eighth spot, purely on for and against.
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