The NYC Sharks have failed to recover from a slow start in going down by 34-4 to the Penrith Panthers.
The Sharks conceded a try in the Panthers first possession, then another shortly after to trail 10-0 and against a quality Penrith team it would prove a hurdle too hard to overcome.
In the final wash up the Panthers would cross for six tries in a convincing victory.
After falling behind early the match then settled down somewhat with the Sharks having their chances to respond.
However next points came from a long-range effort from Panther Tyrone May, the hooker making a line break through the middle of ruck before running 35 metres to score, extending his teams lead to 16-0.
The Sharks did however manage to get on the board in the first 40, winger Levy Sopi going over wide out after a clever exchange of passes. The conversion was waved away but the Sharks had worked their way back into the match somewhat at 16-4 down.
That brief recovery however was short-lived, with the Sharks gifting the Panthers another try before the half time break after an error put their opponents in an attacking field position, half back Soni Luke doing the rest as he dummied his way through to cross adjacent to the uprights. .
The try was converted and the teams would go to half time with the Panthers leading 22-4.
Neither side was able to trouble the scorers in the first 18 minutes of the second period however it would be the Panthers who would add to their account first, a try to centre Maliko Filino making it 28-4 to the home side.
Following that try there was no coming back for the Sharks, one more Panther try running the score out to 34-4, although if there was a positive to come from the performance of the young Sharks it would have been the commitment shown in conceding just two second half tries to their opponents despite running into a stiff southerly breeze.
The NYC Sharks now have a chance to rest up with the rep matches next weekend, with their next assignment a game against the Warriors at home in round 9.
SHARKS 4
Levy Sopi try
Lost to
Panthers 34
Sone Luke, Maliko Filino, Fuimanu Enise, Tyrone May, Oliver Clark, James Fisher-Harris tries, Corey Harawira-Naera 5 goals
