In a match played in slippery conditions at Leichhardt Oval the NYC Sharks have finished their season on a disappointing note in going down by 30-10 to the Wests Tigers.
It was a game which failed to reach any great heights, with both teams certain to be unhppy with the high error rate, however in the end the Tigers proved too good, building on a 16-point half time advantage to secure the points.
After withstanding some early pressure from the Tigers the Sharks managed to post first points when Josh Addo-Carr finished off a backline movement to score in the corner, his 17th of the season which is a season’s best tally for the Cronulla NYC squad.
Jamayne Isaako’s kick at goal was wide of the mark however it was 4-0 to the Sharks.
That lead however would be short-lived when a Sharks error gifted the Tigers field position and they would level the score when fullback Mason Farrell slid over to make it 4-apiece.
The home team then went ahead with a second try to Farrell after a Te Marie Martin line break and after the conversion it was 10-4 to the Tigers after 20 minutes.
With the Sharks producing a high error rate in the wet the rest of the first half was all the Tigers, two more tries, one to winger John Ogden and the other to half back Eli Levido taking the score out to 20-4 at the half time break.
The Tigers would add to their lead when winger John Tohi got on the outside of his opposite number and despite the conversion being off target the Sharks were facing an uphill battle with 30 minutes of the match remaining.
An error from the Tigers fullback, resulting in a try to Issako, converted by that same man, gave the Sharks a glimmer of hope at 24-10 but it would prove to be too difficult a task for a Cronulla team playing below their best.
Yet another Sharks mistake put their opponents into an attacking situation and the Tigers were quick to capitalise, a sixth try for the day, converted by Levido making it 30-10, effectively putting a victory to the young Cronulla side out of reach.
The final period of the game turned into a scrappy affair, with neither side able to control the football and add to their points tally.
The Sharks as they have been all year tried hard throughout the match however poor handing and a number of execution errors let them down on the day.
The under 20 Sharks side finished their season with 18-compeititon points after six wins and two draws from their 24 games.
A number of players on show today will return in the NYC for the Sharks in 2014 but for others it was their last game in the 20’s competition.
SHARKS 10
Josh Addo-Carr, Jamayne Issako try Isaako goal
Lost to
WESTS TIGERS 30
Mason Farrell 2, John Ogden, Eli Levido, John Tohi, Deloise Heoter tries Levido 2 goals
