The Harvey Norman Women's Premiership Sharks have finished the regular season on a positive note following a final round victory over the Bulldogs.
The Sharks scored three tries to two in the 14-8 win in the match played at Hammondville Oval on Saturday, the victory seeing them wind up one point behind the Central Coast Roosters in second position on the competition ladder.
Fielding a relatively young and inexperienced side due to injuries to some of their more senior personnel, the Sharks had to battle hard but they hung on in registering a fifth win, against just one loss, to sit one point behind the Roosters and five clear of the North Sydney Bears who finished third.
With the structure of the HNWP finals series the Sharks and Roosters both have a week off and will then meet in the second round of the playoffs, with the winner moving through to the NSWRL women's competition Grand Final.
Against the Bulldogs the Sharks were first on the board through Kennedy Cherrington, the try converted by Maddi Studdon, before their opponents replied to make the score 6-4 midway through the opening half.,
Tries to Talei Holmes and Jamie-Ann Wright followed in giving the Sharks a nice advantage at 14-4, the Bulldogs then narrowing the margin with their second try of the afternoon, however in the unseasonally warm conditions the Sharks did just enough and now head into the big end of season games with a shot of confidence.
While the youngsters performed strongly, Cherrington and Tegan Dymock rating amongst their best and 2019 Tarsha Gale graduates in Zali Hopkins and Ally Weir making a good fist of their debut matches in the HNWP, coach Glenn Brailey will be keen to inject some experience back into his side after enjoying a week off to freshen up and prepare for the Roosters.
SHARKS 14
Kennedy Cherrington, Talei Holmes, Jamie-Ann Wright tries, Maddison Studdon goal
Beat
BULLDOGS 8
Lead photo - courtesy Steve Montgomery - ourfootyteam.com
