The under-16 Matthews Cup Sharks continued their undefeated season with a win in Canberra, while despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline yesterday the SG Ball Sharks live to fight another day after the completion of the regular season.
The Matthews Cup Sharks finished in second position on the competition table after their 26-18 win, while in the SG Ball the Sharks were outplayed by the Raiders in going down by 38-10 but in sneaking into the finals in seventh place still have a chance to defend the title they claimed last year.
In the Matthews Cup the young Sharks were faced with a spirited Raiders challenge, however a strong opening 30 minutes saw them go to the break up by 16-10 and with everything to play for.
While they didn't have things all their own way in the second period the Sharks were good enough to weather the storm and secure an eight-point victory, one which saw them finish the season with eight wins and one draw from their nine matches played.
The Matthews Cup Sharks finished one point behind the Parramatta Eels and now take on the third-placed Newcastle Knights in the first week of the competition finals.
The SG Ball the match however took on a different look, with the Sharks again somewhat disappointing in a continuation of their form from the previous two weeks and the Canberra side made they pay.
Canberra were well on top at 16-4 in front at half time and went on with the job in the second period, seven tries in all seeing them register a comfortable win over the Sharks.
Despite their impressive performance the Raiders failed to qualify for the finals, while the Sharks wound-up in seventh where they will now face the Bulldogs in a sudden-death match in week one of the playoffs next weekend.
See below score information from yesterday's matches against the Raiders and the finals schedule for next weekend.
MATTHEWS CUP
Cronulla 26 (Bronson Xerri 2, Joniah Lualau, Kai Broadhurst, Angus Ernst tries; Broadhurst 3 goals) def Canberra 18 (J Church, K Taiseni, I Jang tries; K Jensen 3 goals)
Matthews Cup ladder - CLICK HERE
SG BALL
Canberra 38 (J Simbiken 2, Q Cannon 2, S Ketia-Opo, S Kris, D Clark tries; Ketia-Opo 5 goals) def Cronulla 10 (Jaemon Salmon, Luke Jurd tries; Luke Metcalf goal)
SG Ball ladder - CLICK HERE
Harold Matthews
Canterbury Bulldogs v Western Suburbs Magpies
St Marys Leagues Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 10am
Parramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles
Campbelltown Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 10am
Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights
St Marys Leagues Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 1pm
Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers
Campbelltown Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 1pm
SG Ball
Canterbury Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks
St Marys Leagues Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 11:30am
Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters
Campbelltown Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 11:30am
Newcastle Knights v South Sydney Rabbitohs
St Marys Leagues Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 2:30pm
Illawarra Steelers v Penrith Panthers
Campbelltown Stadium
Saturday, 16 April, 2:30pm
