Bittersweet round for Junior Rep Sharks

It was a topsy-turvy weekend for the Junior Representative Sharks as the SG Ball and Lisa Fiaola sides shored up their finals bids while the Harold Matthews and Tarsha Gale teams were defeated.

Facing the Knights at the Newcastle COE on Saturday, Cronulla's Lisa Fiaola girls ground out a 12-4 victory to nail down their place in the top eight with one round remaining. The Tarsha Gale Sharks were defeated 14-10, however their points differential should be enough to qualify for the playoffs regardless of results.

In the boys matches played at Sharks Stadium on Sunday, Cronulla's Harold Matthews finals chances were left hanging by a thread after a 24-22 loss to the Bulldogs. There were no such issues for the SG Ball team, with a crushing 38-10 victory over the Tigers ensuring their premiership hopes remain alive.

Harold Matthews report

Riddled with injuries and poor weather conditions, the Harold Matthews Sharks were unable to get one over a ruthless Bulldogs side in an extremely important match.

The Bulldogs started fast with a charge-down to back up a strong first set of defence which led to a try to winger Wesley Papalii-Afoa in the opening minute. Centre Luca Te Awa was unable to convert, giving Canterbury an early 4-0 lead. 

Cronulla didn't let this slow them down, however, as they continued to place sets of solid attack on the Bulldogs.

Fancy footwork from Canterbury fullback Kden Carter gave them room for a try-scoring opportunity, but they were unable to complete the play.

Throughout the middle of the first half, the Sharks showed a lot of fight, repeatedly defending sets, however in attack, they suffered from poor discipline and couldn't finish.

After a mammoth effort defending their line, it was only a matter of time before the Bulldogs struck for their second, winger Oka Chan Kum Tong sliding over the line in the 17th minute. Te Awa narrowly missed the conversion, furthering the margin to 8-0.

An unfortunate error from the Sharks allowed Canterbury to regain possession and make a break down the field. Following this Cronulla gave away a detrimental penalty, which ended in Bulldogs centre Braith Sloane adding another four-pointer to their tally and Te Awa landing his first conversion of the day for a 14-0 lead.

The unlucky streak was broken when Cronulla crossed under the black dot for their first of the day in the 27th minute thanks to fullback Thomas Beattie. Halfback Liam Challenor converted to bring the Sharks back within eight points. 

Retrieving the ball from the kick off, the Bulldogs found a spot of lacking defence and used it to their advantage when Te Awa angled his way across the line in the final minute before the break. He was unable to convert. 

It was the Sharks who opened the second-half scoring with winger Brodie Johnsen marching his way over in the 35th minute, with Challenor booting a tough goal. Cronulla now only trailed by a converted try, giving them a shot of confidence.

To back up their flawless start after the break, interchange forward Oliver Te Hira secured a try for the Sharks in the 38th minute, and with Challenor able to convert, the scores were levelled at 18-18.

Canterbury snatched back the lead in the 47th minute with five-eighth Chinedu Udeh crossing to make the score 22-18. Fullback Carter added the two points. 

A perfectly placed kick from Cronulla in the 52nd minute allowed Johnsen to grab his second of the match and bring the hosts back into the game. Challenor was unable to convert, leaving the Sharks trailing by two.

The contest went down to the wire with Cronulla throwing everything they had at an outstanding defensive side, though they were continually held out. The final score of 24-22 significantly dented the Sharks' finals hopes.

SG Ball report

Unlike the Harold Matthews match, it was Cronulla who were in control for the majority of the SG Ball game, proving they have what it takes to be a finals side.

For the opening 10 minutes, the match was tight with both sides making a few errors but staying consistent in attack and defence.

Cronulla were the first team to strike in the eighth minute after halfback Blake Wardrobe made a break and passed to winger Bailey Leach, who used momentum to get across. With five-eighth Callum Grantham unable to convert, the Sharks led 4-0.

Continuing their run of solid attack, fast hands down the left side placed winger Elijah Paea in perfect position to barge his way over in the 14th minute. An unsuccessful conversion attempt by Grantham in windy conditions meant the Sharks stretched their lead out by four more points.

To add to their list of tries, in the 19th minute Blake Watman forced his way under the black dot for Cronulla's third of the day, and with Grantham adding the two points, the Sharks were slipping away from the Tigers. 

After 24 minutes, Balmain hit back with winger Cooper Rauhihi touching down and halfback Marc Tannous converting. The Tigers were now back in this contest, only trailing by eight.

It wasn't enough for the visitors as Cronulla marched their way over just four minutes later, with centre Prestyn Laine-Sietu grabbing his first of the day. Grantham was unable to convert.

Laine-Sietu proved unstoppable when securing a double moments later in the 31st minute, and with Grantham unable to add the two points, the score was 22-6. 

To capitalise on their sensational first-half performance, Cronulla added a sixth try to their tally on the buzzer with Paea claiming a double. To enter the break, the Sharks led 26-6, summing up a dominant display so far.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, a knock-on from the kick off gave Cronulla prime field position instantly, however they could not complete.

After poor discipline from the Sharks, interchange forward Jake White was sin-binned. Now against a 12-man side, Balmain capitalised and went in for their second of the afternoon with Ocean Vaivela powering through the defensive line in the 48th minute. With Tannous missing the goal, the score was 26-10.

Throughout the majority of the second-half it was an arm wrestle, with both teams unable to complete sets and giving away penalties.

The Sharks broke their scoreless second-half streak with fullback Oliver Lester sliding over the try line in the 64th minute to take the score to 30-10, and with Grantham converting, there were now 22 points dividing the teams.

Off the back of an amazing kick from Alex Isdale in the 69th minute, centre Nikora Williams leapt to catch the ball and came down over the line to cap off an amazing game from Cronulla's SG Ball side. With Grantham converting, the final score was 38-10 in favour of the Sharks.

The Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Sharks will round out the regular season at home on Saturday morning with matches against the Wests Tigers. The SG Ball side are also scheduled to play at Sharks Stadium in a clash with the Storm, while the Harold Matthews boys will take their talents to Jubilee Stadium to face the Dragons.