In a match unlike many in the NYC competition where defense dominated the attack, the NYC Sharks have slumped to a 22-12 defeat to the Parramatta Eels.
After two sizzling performances where the young Sharks ran up big scores against the Raiders then Dragons, this time they couldn’t crack a determined Eels side.
With errors and a lack of discipline letting them down, the Sharks couldn’t get over the top of their opponents, with the loss running their record out to two wins and two losses from their four matches so far this season.
The match began well enough for the Sharks who were first on the board when an enterprising backline movement resulted in a Sione Katoa line break, with the winger kicking inside for Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga to collect the ball and score adjacent to the posts.
Kyle Flanagan added the extras and the Sharks had an early 6-0 lead.
The Eels responded with a try shortly after to make it 6-points all, before the Sharks would go over again, this time Katoa would cross the line himself, cutting back inside and beating a handful of defenders in a determined 15-metre run.
Flanagan was again on target and it was 12-6 Sharks, a lead they would take to the half time break.
The Eels would bounce back again in the opening stages of the second half, scoring from close range through some poor defense on the Sharks left hand side and the scores were locked up once more, this time at 12-all.
Points were then hard to come by and it took until the 66th minute before the deadlock was broken and it would be the Eels who would take their first lead of the afternoon.
The try came after two ordinary kicks, both fielded by Parramatta, then a clever grubber on the end of that by Anthony Layoun, their fullback winning a race to the ball to touch down out wide.
The kick was wide but the Eels had grabbed the advantage and all the momentum with time running out on the Sharks challenge.
The Sharks tried hard to steal the result in the final moments however too many pushed passes and a few untimely errors saw the Eels score late and claim the win.
While the effort was there coach John Morris would have been disappointed in the execution with Sharks having plenty of work to do before they host the Knights next Saturday afternoon.
SHARKS 12
Sione Katoa, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga tries, Kyle Flanagan 2 goals
lost to
PARRAMATTA 22
