Despite being in the tussle for large parts of the contest, the U20s Sharks were unable to continue their recent winning ways against a dominant Roosters outfit.
Getting off to the near-perfect start, the Sharks found their way down field thanks to consecutive penalties, and went close to scoring on two occasions when Sopi and Clarke were held up over the Roosters goal line.
Having repelled the Sharks onslaught the visitors marched down the field and opened the scoring through five-eighth Connor Watson.
Centre Taane Milne made no mistake adjacent to the posts, in sending the tri-colours out by 6 inside the opening ten minutes.
Cronulla regathered themselves and again found their way deep into Roosters territory, and having earned a repeat set when halfback Brad Deitz was hit late, Semisi Vea crossed out wide and the scores were tied at 6.
Stunning lead up play from Sharks three-quarter Josh Addo led to the second Sharks try of the afternoon, as winger Levy Sopi continued his recent run of personal successes in nabbing another four-pointer - his fouth in two weeks.
Fullback Ryan Cummins was unable to add the extras though, with his conversion attempt hitting the uprights and falling away.
SG Ball graduate Curtis Scott made it three tries in eight minutes for the Sharks, but again Cummins could not add the extra 2 and the score remained at 14-6.
13 Minutes before the half time interval, Roosters lock Sukamanu Raki bullied his way over the line before Paul Momirovski sent his side to the front as the Roosters took a 18-14 lead into the sheds.
An injury to Alec Susino on the other side of the break held the match at a standstill for near on ten minutes, but the stoppage didn’t halt the Roosters surge. Momirovski and Watson each grabbed tries to take their personal tallies to two, and the score to 28-14.
The Sharks scored twice to get back to within four points through lock Billy Magoulias and Addo, who notched his double.
But the Roosters again extended their lead when fullback Latrell Mitchell put on a sublime piece of play to send Jack Hetherington in untouched.
The visitors continued to pile on the points and went out by 14 as Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck took a leaf out of his elder brothers book to cut the Sharks defence to shreds. Milne capped a near-perfect day with the boot, converting the try to extend the lead to 16.
Full time at Remondis Stadium, the Roosters running out 40 points to 24 victors.
CRONULLA SHARKS – 24
[TRIES: Vea, Addo (2), Scott, Magoulias – GOALS: Cummins (1/4), Williams (1/1)]
Def. by SYDNEY ROOSTERS – 40
[TRIES: Watson (2), Raki, Momirovski (2), Hetherington, Tuivasa-Sheck – GOALS: Milne (6/7)]
