Tough weekend for Junior Sharks
It was a tough road trip for the Sharks Junior Rep teams on Saturday, with all three going down to the Roosters in round five matches played in Wyong.
The Tarsha Gale Sharks had their chances before eventually going down 14-8 to the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy team, the Matthews Cup Sharks were disappointing in a 36-12 loss to the Roosters, while the Sharks under-19 SG Ball side were beaten 26-14.
The three Sharks teams remain in the top eight of their respective competitions, but now face crucial games this weekend against the Illawarra Steelers in Wollongong.
In the first game at the Bill Hicks Oval the Tarsha Sharks were on the board early, a try to Ella Barker giving them a 4-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Roosters responded with two first half tries in taking an 8-4 advantage to the break, however a Tayla Curtis four-pointer levelled the scores soon after the resumption.
Unfortunately the Sharks girls couldn't go on with the job, the Indigenous Academy scoring a late converted try to take home the valuable two competition points.
In the match to follow the under-17 Matthews Cup Sharks were first to score, prop Sam McCulloch crashing over, with Dylan Christensen adding the extras and the Cronulla team looked in control.
That dominance however would be short-lived, running into a stiff breeze the Roosters crossed the stripe three times and at 14-6 at the break the Sharks had it all to do.
The beginning of the second period was a disaster for the Sharks, a mistake from the first play after half time gifting their opponents field position and they certainly took advantage.
The Roosters scored twice before the Sharks touched the ball again in adding to their lead, then when they were pushed over the sideline on tackle one when they did have an opportunity in possession, the result was put almost beyond doubt with another try to their opponents pushing the score out to 30-6.
The Matthews Sharks did show some pride in the jersey to limit the scoring from that point, with a late try adding some semblance of respectability to the final score line.
In the SG Ball it was the Sharks running into the southerly in the first half and in taking just a six-point deficit to the break at 16-10 down, with tries to hooker Kobie Wilson and winger Sam Stonestreet, would have been optimistic about their chances in the second 35-minute period.
A terrible blunder from the Roosters fullback gifted halfback Ryan Rivett a try in the early moments of the half, giving them even more encouragement, but that was as close as the Sharks would get.
From that point the Roosters were the more controlled and committed team, with the final score of 26-14 probably a fair indication of the difference between the two sides.
The Sharks now travel to the Collegians Sporting Complex in Wollongong for round six matches, with the Jersey Flegg Sharks playing the opening game of their season at the same venue against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
TARSHA GALE
Sharks 8
Ella Barker, Tayla Curtis tries
Lost to
Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy 14
MATTHEWS CUP
Sharks 12
Sam McCulloch, Lawson Cotter tries, Dylan Christensen 2 goals
lost to
Roosters 36
SG BALL
Sharks 14
Ryan Rivett, Sam Stonestreet, Kobie Wilson tries, Rivett 1 goal
lost to
Roosters 26
Lead photo - Noah Lester from the SG Ball Sharks - pic courtesy Steve Montgomery - Ourfootyteam.com
