HNWP Sharks win their way into Grand Final
The Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Sharks have a chance to deliver the Club its first senior women’s title after beating Mounties to qualify for the Grand Final.
Playing against a physical Mounties side, the Sharks went in with the perfect game plan, stood firm in defense when they needed to and emerged 22-4 victors to set up a clash with the Wests Tigers to decide the 2022 premiers.
Sharks coach Tony Herman was understandably we’re proud of the performance of his team against a quality Mounties outfit and was looking forward to the Grand Final next weekend.
“It’s pretty exciting for the club and very exciting for the girls,” Herman began. “They were awesome today. I really thought they stuck to what they wanted to do, worked really hard for one another.”
The Sharks enjoyed a fast start, fullback Sam Bremner, brilliant for the Cronulla girls on the day, slicing through for the first try, before laying on the second for Zali Fay with a clever cut out pass.
With Maddie Studdon kicking one of the two conversions, the Sharks led 10-0, an advantage they appeared likely to take to the break, until a Mounties four-pointer on the stroke of half time edged their opponents closer.
“We led 10-0 early, they scored that try just before half time, a lucky try, and it could have fallen apart for us. You start thinking too much about that try.” Herman said “But the girls put that right behind them.
“Ten or 15 mintues into the second half they were coming for us, they had all the momentum, but the girls kept scrambling for one another, working tough and we felt that once we regained that momentum because of our defense, that we could continue on,” he added.
Which is exactly the way it turned out. After weathering the Mounties comeback, a try to Studdon, backing up another Bremner line break, then a final touchdown in the closing moments from Quincy Dodd after a strong run by Tiana Penitani, propelling the Sharks into the competition decider.
“They’re a great group of girls and we’ve got better each week. It was an awesome performance, but we’ve still got a week to go so we’re not getting too carried away,” Herman said.
The Sharks were well served by Bremner at the back, Fay on the wing did an outstanding job in defusing the Mounties kicks while also working hard in the backfield to take pressure off her forwards, with Holly Wheeler leading the way for her team in the middle of the field.
Studdon also displayed her experience with a controlled display in the halves, in partnership with youngster Zali Hopkins who also did a good job in steering the Sharks around the field.
The Sharks now face a Tigers team which has come from fourth to qualify for the Grand Final, with that match scheduled to be played at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday.
SHARKS 22
Quincy Dodd, Zali Fay, Maddie Studdon, Sam Bremner tries, Studdon 3 goals
beat
MOUNTIES 4
