Mounties prove too much for HNWP Sharks

In a result to put a serious dent in their Finals aspirations, the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Sharks have gone down to Mounties in a round 7 match played at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Monday night.

The Sharks scored midway through the second half to pull within a converted try of their opponents, however Mounties were too strong over the dying moments, with two late converted tries closing out a 30-12 victory.

With only two rounds of the competition remaining, the Sharks are four points outside of a possible Finals berth and now need other results fall in their favour should they hope to be a part of the big end of season matches.

After an encouraging first period, the physical Mounties forward pack assumed control after half time, with the Sharks unable to stem the tide.

“The first half was pretty good, but Mounties came out of the sheds in the second half better than we did,” Sims said. “Their big middles started to find their groove.

“One half isn’t going to win us a game of footy, so we need to replicate what we do well in patches, do well in halves and to do it for 70 minutes.”

The Sharks scored twice early, Zali Fay, then Brooke Anderson getting over the stripe, before Mounties responded with a converted try of their own as the teams went to the break with the Cronulla girls up 8-6.

As explained by Sims the big Mounties forwards began to control the middle of the field and supported by a clever kicking game the Sharks were on the back foot, conceding two tries to call behind 18-8 midway through the half.

A determined try to Kiana Takairangi saw the Sharks pull within six, but playing their power game Mounties reasserted their control of the contest and would go on with the job.

The win saw Mounties jump up to second position on the HNWP ladder, while the Sharks sit eighth.

The Sharks play the Dragons on Sunday, then have a bye in the final round.

HNWP
SHARKS 12
Kiana Takairangi, Brooke Anderson, Zali Fay tries
Lost to
MOUNTIES 30