WYONG Roos survived a brutal and scoreless second half to defeat Mounties 14-6 in the NSW Cup rugby league match on Saturday.
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It was the second time this season that the Roos have downed the Canberra Raiders feeder club.
Wyong five-eighth Jono Ford set up the first try when his low, cross-field kick was fumbled in goal, presenting back-rower Sam Bernstrom with an easy four-pointer.
New Wyong half-back Mark Kheirallah converted from close range.
Ford was at it again minutes later when he used all of his 198-centimetre frame to reach one-handed for a Kheirallah kick and bat it back for centre Jay Florimo to regather and pass to unmarked winger Grant Nelson to score.
Wyong's third try came from a smart attacking play where Ford found Kheirallah with a second-man pass and he was able to slip behind the Mounties' staggered line of defenders, outpacing the cover defence to cross for a 14-0 lead.
Mounties received a withering half-time spray from Canberra's assistant coach, Brett Kimmorley.
That turned up the physical intensity in the second half, and the ball control and discipline from both teams suffered as a result.
"The game devolved into a festival of handling errors, forward passes and vigorous defence. Wyong refused to be intimidated and Mounties were embarrassed, became too emotional and lost their way," Wyong football manager Matt Lavin said.
Wyong's forward pack, led by props Mark O'Meley and Magnus Stromquist, stared down the opposition for the whole match.
It will be tough going for the Roos again this Saturday when they travel to New Zealand to play the curtain raiser to the Warriors versus Broncos NRL clash at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
The match will be televised from 3pm on Fox Sport.