The Sharks Harvey Norman Women's Premiership team have won their way into a Grand Final qualifier, beating Saint Mary's 28-12 in their elimination final on Saturday.
After a narrow loss to defending premiers Mounties the previous week, the Sharks women faced a sudden-death match at Leichhardt Oval, however after responding to an early try by the Saints the Cronulla girls would take a 16-6 lead to the break, before going on with the job in the second half.
All five Sharks tries came from their outside backs, youngster Jaime Chapman scoring three times, her 2019 Tarsha Gale teammate Zali Fay notched one, while NSW Origin rep Tiana Penitani crossed for the other.
Chapman's performance on the wing was an eye-catcher, her three tries emphasising her obviously potential, the first of which came when she ducked and weaved thru half a dozen defenders before running 70 meters to score. This is Chapman's first season in senior competition after starring for the Sharks Tarsha Gale team in 2019.
Tegan Dymock, another of the younger brigade to have graduated from the 18's this year, also played a role in the Sharks win.
The Sharks were stunned into action when Saints scored first, a converted try in the seventh minute giving them a 6-0 lead.
From that point in the first half however the Sharks dominated, Fay scoring first, then Chapman crossed, the try converted by Maddie Studdon and the Sharks led 10-6.
Penitani would extend the Sharks advantage, with the half time score a good indication of the difference between the two teams.
But after taking a half time lead into their finals match the week before against Mounties, nothing could be taken for granted and it was Chapman who would go in for her second, giving her team some breathing room just five minutes into the period.
Saints narrowed the margin to 22-12 with 15 minutes to go, however the Sharks wouldn't let this one slip, a third Chapman try, converted by Studdon, confirming the result.
The Sharks now move into a Grand Final qualifying clash against CRL Newcastle, with the winner to play either Mounties or the Wests Tigers in the competition decider the following week.
SHARKS 28
Jaime Chapman 3, Zali Fay, Tiana Penitani tries, Maddie Studdon 4 goals
beat
SAINTS 12
