While it may have not been their most convincing performance of the 2016 season the NYC Sharks did just enough to beat a willing Manly side and end a two-game losing streak.
Coming into the game on the back of losses to the Sea Eagles then Knights, the Sharks jumped out to a big half time lead before holding on in the second 40 minutes in registering their seventh win in 11 starts this season.
The two teams were evenly matches during the early exchanges but it would be Manly who were first on board, rangy centre Brad Parker crashing over wide out.
The Sharks were quick to respond, a strong charge from lock Jayden McDonogh resulting in the first points of night for the home team and when Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga added the extras from straight in front the Sharks would lead 6-4 after 22 minutes of the match.
Another outstanding carry from McDonogh put the Sharks on the front foot shortly after and when Manly fullback Tom Wright made an awful error trying to collect a towering Jack Williams bomb, the Cronulla side would go further ahead.
This time it was Aufaga-Toomaga to pounce on the ball to touchdown and when the centre converted his own try it was 12-4 Sharks.
Now full of running the remainder of the first period was all the Sharks, a second Aufaga-Toomaga try, this time down the right hand side, followed by a barge over effort from left centre Lachlan Stein and the young Cronulla team was up 24-4 at the break.
The start of the second period however didn’t go to plan for the Sharks, two Manly tries, one to each of their wingers, saw the margin shrink to 12, with the score at 24-12 and more than 30-minutes left on the clock.
To their credit the Sharks regrouped, denied Manly a try and again asserted some dominance over the game.
It took a while but the Sharks managed to virtually put the game away when McDonogh, running onto a Jayden Brailey pass scored his second of the night with only 10 minutes of the match remaining.
Aufaga-Toomaga kept his perfect kicking record for the night intact with a conversion from wide out, making it 30-12 Sharks and the two competition points were assured.
Manly crossed for a consolation try, bringing the final score to 30-16 but the Sharks had ended a two-game losing streak and would remain in the top eight on the NYC ladder after 11 rounds of season.
SHARKS 30
Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga 2, Lachlan Stein, Jayden McDonogh tries, Aufaga-Toomaga 4, Rhys Davies goals
Beat
MANLY 16
Tevita Funa 2, Jayden El-Jalkh, Brad Parker tries
