One up, one down for male junior Sharks
While the SG Ball Sharks were able to score a crucial win in their bid to qualify for the upcoming Finals series, their Matthews Cup counterparts fell to the Sea Eagles in round seven matches played at Sharks Stadium on Sunday.
In the SG Ball it was a solid defensive performance which proved the key in a 24-4 win over Manly, while the Matthews Cup Sharks had their chances before giving up a try on the full-time siren in a 20-10 loss.
The results leave the two Sharks junior representative teams within reach of a place inside the top eight, however they will both need wins over the closing rounds of the competition if they hope to play Finals football.
In the Matthews Cup, capitalising on a glut of possession and field position, it was Manly to score first, their front rower Kai Brennan running through a gaping hole in the Sharks defence to touch down under the uprights. Following the successful conversion it was 6-0 to the Sea Eagles.
The Sharks would work their way back into the contest and were rewarded for their efforts when fullback Thomas Beattie showed plenty of determination to ground the ball over the line despite the attention of a number of Sea Eagle defenders.
From wide out Spencer Swann was on target with his conversion attempt and the two teams were locked at 6-all midway through the half.
Manly went back in front, scoring a try in the south-eastern corner of Sharks Stadium after the Sharks failed to clean up a Sea Eagles grubber kick, and when the attempt at conversion was wide of the mark it was 10-6 to the visitors, a lead they would take to the half-time break.
Kicking off the second stanza and an error on the Sharks' first set of six was hardly the way they had hoped to begin the half, with the Sea Eagles making them pay, winger Hunter Chan sliding over in the corner to give his team an eight-point lead at 14-6.
Again while they were short of their best on the day the Sharks refused to give in and it was a try to backrower Hugh Windon 13 minutes from time that gave them some belief, however as hard as they tried, unforced errors proved to be critical as Manly held onto their advantage, before a try on the full-time siren confirmed their victory.
The loss sees the Sharks sit ninth on the Matthews Cup ladder and needing wins in their final two matches.
In the SG Ball clash to follow, the Sharks were on top early and managed to turn that domination into points, Blake Watman touching down after a strong run through the middle of the Manly forward pack, before Thomas Dellow backed up a Sharks line break to score under the posts.
Callum Grantham converted both tries and the Sharks led 12-0 after the opening 12 minutes of the contest.
Manly would show some resolve, earn an even share of field position and possession and eat into the Sharks lead with a try wide out with three minutes left in the first half, with the teams going to the break with the Cronulla under-19 side up by 12-4.
Starting the second half in a similar fashion to the way they began the first, the Sharks had their opponents under pressure and it was a strong charge from interchange forward Viliame Koroitamana that would extend their lead.
Grantham was again on target and it was 18-4 Sharks, a lead they would add to in the next set of six, Blake Wardrobe backing up a line break from centre Prestyn Laine-Sietu before dashing 30 metres to score.
At 24-4 the Sharks were well in control, however they were unable to add to their tally in the final 25 minutes of the match.
Like the Matthews Cup team, the SG Ball Sharks also sit ninth on the ladder with two wins needed to complete their season should they look to challenge for the title.
The SG Ball and Matthews Cup Sharks play round eight matches against the Tigers at Sharks Stadium next Sunday.
