A spectacular second half fight back has fallen agonisingly short for the NYC Sharks who finished in a 28-all draw with the Melbourne Storm.
The Sharks trailed 28-4 at half time, fought hard in the early moments of the second period then came ‘storming’ home and in the end where probably somewhat unlucky not to collect both competition points.
When a Jaden Clarke attempt at field goal sailed wide with less than two mintues left on the clock the Sharks had to be content with a draw in a game where they showed outstanding resolve to almost snatch an unlikely win.
The first half was all the Storm as the visitors began will to lead 10-0.
The first of three tries to half back Brad Deitz narrowed the margin to six points, however the Storm had all the momentum for the rest of the half as they went to the break ahead by 28-4.
After what must have been a rousing half time reception from coach James Shepherd the Sharks returned to the field with added determination and managed to get into the arm wrestle with the Melbourne side as the score remained unchanged for the first 25 minutes of the half.
Deitz crossed for his second, converted by Ryan Cummins to make it 28-10, but with less than 15 minutes to go, nobody at Remondis Stadium could have predicted the dramatic turnaround which was to come.
Clarke crashed over wide outjust four minutes later, with Cummins again adding the extras, before Ash Nisbet touched down close to the uprights in the 73rd minutes and at 28-22 the Storm all of a sudden had the wobbles.
Not long after a towering Clarke bomb was fumbled by Storm winger Tony Tumasa and when Deitz was Johnny-on-the-spot to dive on the ball all of a sudden Cummins had a kick to level it up.
The Sharks fullback, a local product from the De La Salle club made no mistake with the kick at goal and it was 28-all with still time on the clock.
Both teams had opportunities in the dying moments to secure the win but in the end they would share the spoils, the recording their second tied result of the 2015 season.
The Sharks are unlikely to move up the competition ladder with one point from the draw and will be ruing a number of missed opportunities in close matches this year.
They are four points behind the eighth placed Wests Tigers with three rounds to go and while a mathematical possibility of making the top eight would need three wins and results in other matches to go their way.
The can however do themselves a favour starting next weekend when they host the Tigers in a match to be played on Saturday afternoon at Remondis Stadium.
SHARKS 28
Brad Deitz 3, Jaden Clarke, Ash Nisbet tries, Ryan Cummins 4 goals
drew
MELBOURNE 28
Tony Tumasa 3, Jake Turpin, Josh Kerr tries, Mack Mason 4 goals
