Sharks women slip and slide to St Mary’s loss

In a match played in cold, wet and slippery conditions, the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Sharks have suffered their first defeat of the 2022 season.

The Sharks gave up an early 12-0 lead and were never able to get over the top of their opponents thereafter, with a tenacious St Mary’s side hanging on for a 12-10 victory.

Played at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence in Homebush, the Sharks fell behind early through a combination of ordinary defence and a spirited start from the Saints, with the alarm bells ringing when a second St Mary’s try pushed their lead out to 12 points just 11 minutes into the match.

From there with a better completion rate and even share of the ball the Sharks battled back, a try to winger Tegan Berry on the end of a well-worked backline move, seeing the teams go to the break with the Saints up 12-6.

The Sharks edged closer when centre Tiana Penitani slid across wide out, however the conversion was waved away.

From there the Saints clung to their narrow lead and defended stoutly over the final 10 minutes to score what would be viewed by many to be an upset result.

Despite being without a handful of their established stars, Maddie Studdon, Quincy Dodd and Talei Holmes amongst them, it was still something of a disappointing result for the Sharks women who had begun the 2022 season with two impressive victories.

The competition takes a break this weekend for the representative round, with a number of the Sharks girls involved in either the City or Country teams, with their next match at home against the Wentworthville Magpies on Saturday, May 21.

SHARKS 10
Tiana Penitani, Tegan Berry tries, Rueben Cherrington goal
lost to
SAINTS 12