Flegg Sharks score gutsy win over the Sea Eagles

The Jersey Flegg Sharks have come back from an early 10-0 deficit to score a crucial win over the Sea Eagles to maintain their place inside the top four on the competition ladder.

With the wind at their backs the Manly side enjoyed all the early running, two tries taking them out to a handy lead, however showing determination and resilience the Sharks responded to dominate the second half in scoring a 22-16 victory.

The win was also achieved with regular five eighth Max Riolo playing only 11 minutes of the match after copping a head knock early in the contest.  

After giving up the early lead, it was prop Felix Faatili who put the Sharks first points on the board with a 29th minute try and when Kristian Dixon converted the teams went to half time with the Sea Eagles up 10-6.

Manly pushed their advantage back out to 10 with a converted try early in the second period, however the Sharks kept chipping away and would be rewarded for their efforts when right winger Te Wehi Waitere did an outstanding job to get the ball down in the north-western corner and when Dixon slotted the sideline conversion it was 16-12 with 20 minutes of the match still to go.

The Sharks would take their first lead of the afternoon soon after when hard working lock Lachlan Crouch crashed over, Dixon adding the extras from close range and at 18-16 the game was set up for a grandstand finish.

Repelling the Sea Eagles at one end the Sharks would be rewarded at the other, Dixon winning the race to the ball after his opposite had spilled a cross field kick and it was Cronulla by six with time running out.

The Sharks had a scare when a Sea Eagles was adjudged to be offside, the try disallowed and the Sharks would hang on for their 11th win of the 2023 season, with the two points pushing them four clear of the fifth placed Storm with five games left to play.

The Flegg Sharks play the third-placed Panthers next weekend.  

SHARKS 22
Felix Faatili, Te Wehi Waitere, Lachlan Crouch, Kristian Dixon tries, Dixon 3 goals
beat
SEA EAGLES 16