Impressive performances in the two development squad outings highlighted trial matches played last Saturday by young Sharks squads from 15’s up to under-20’s.
Sharks Development Squads in the under 16’s and 18’s handed in dominant displays against the Canberra Raiders in matches played at the Sharks Academy fields at Cronulla High, with a number of the youngsters putting their best foot forward with the start of the Junior Representative season just two weeks away.
Following the Development Squad games the Matthews Cup Sharks, despite missing a handful of key personnel, played strongly in their trial outing, scoring a five tries to two victory over the Raiders in a promising hit out.
In the SG Ball a couple of defensive lapses and some poor ball control from the Sharks saw the Raiders jump out to a two try lead, before the Cronulla side responded in the second half with the match finishing with the scores level when the full-time whistle blew.
The Ball Sharks fielded a young side, with many of their squad moving up to the under-18’s after playing starring roles in the success of the under-16’s Matthews Cup last season.
Both the Sharks Matthews Cup and SG Ball teams won the State and National Championship double in outstanding seasons by both squads.
In the NYC trial, played at Kogarah Oval against the Dragons, the Sharks went down by four tries to two to the St George Illawarra side in a match which was called off 15 minutes early due to lightning.
Incoming NYC coach John Morris kept a number of his more established players out of the trial game with the kick off to his season still over a month away.
For the Sharks junior rep teams, their campaign gets underway much sooner, with one further trial on Saturday against the Bulldogs, before start of the season proper on February 13.
Stay tuned to Sharks media channels for more information on the Bulldogs trial and their round one match to follow.
