In a match played in heavy conditions at Carrington Park in Bathurst the NYC Sharks have gone down by 18-14 to the Penrith Panthers.
In a spirirted performance the Sharks battled hard throughout and looked to have stolen a last gasp win only to have a try called back for what was ruled a forward pass.
After the Panthers had scored an early try the Sharks bounced back, Valentine Holmes slicing through to level the scores at four apiece.
In the soft and slippery conditions expansive football became difficult and the only other points in the first half came just before the break when the Panthers exploited an overlap to score wide out.
Their conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the teams would go to the break with Penrith leading 8-4.
An early Panthers try in the opening minutes of the second stanza extended their lead to 14-4 but the Sharks had plenty of fight left in them and when Josh Addo-Carr dashed clear and dived over to cross wide out the Sharks were within six.
That margin then became four with the Holmes conversion from the sideline and at 14-10 with still 20 minutes of the match remaining the Sharks were still well and truly in the contest.
A fourth Penrith try made it 18-10 with 11 to go, before a Finlay Dibley try after he won the race to an Anthony Moraitis grubber kick brought the Sharks within four points once again.
With one last throw of the dice the Sharks attacked the Panthers line and appeared to have stolen the points, only for the touch judge to overrule the referee and call an inside pass to Holmes forward.
It was a disappointing and frustrating ending for the Sharks who had toiled hard against a quality Panthers outfit.
The loss will see the Sharks remain in 13th position on the NYC ladder with six games left in the 2014 season.
SHARKS 14
Valentine Holmes, Finlay Dibley, Josh Addo-Carr tries, Holmes goal
Lost to
Panthers 18
