It was a big day all around for the Cronulla club with five of the six teams in action notching victories on a successful Saturday.
In Canberra it was three from three with the NRL and NYC boys scoring big wins and the Sharks Women's team was impressive with a victory over the Raiders in the curtain-raiser at GIO Stadium, while before the big boys and girls got underway the junior Sharks were looking after their own business back at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
And again the young Sharks Matthews Cup and Ball teams led the way with their fourth wins of the year, however the Tarsha Gale girls suffered their first defeat of the 2017 season with a narrow 30-26 loss.
The Matts Cup Sharks responded after being down 10-0 during the first half to win 24-16 over the Illawarra Steelers, before their SG Ball counterparts kept on their winning ways with a 38-16 victory.
Unfortunately spoiling the party somewhat, following a super impressive three-win start to their season, the Tarsha Gale Under 18's women went down narrowly 30-26 in an entertaining contest in their match against Illawarra.
In opening game of the day the two teams traded early tries before the Steelers would grab a 14-6 lead with two more four pointers and a conversion.
As the match went from end to end and the girls traded tries the match was in the balance until two Illawarra tries in quick succession made it too big a mountain to climb for the Sharks. To their credit the young Sharks women didn't give up with a late try narrowing the final margin.
Tayla Preston was again impressive with two tries and three goals, with the young Shark then jumping in her car and heading down to Canberra to join the senior Cronulla Women's team in their game against the Raiders.
With three wins from their four games to date the Tarsha Gale Sharks still sit equal top on the competition points table.
In the Matthews match to follow the Steelers got off to a fast start and a 10-0 lead, however this Cronulla team showed plenty of confidence and composure to come back, four first half tries taking them to the break up by 20-10.
Against a quality opponent the Sharks remained composed and did enough in the second half to get the points with their 26-16 win.
Winger Eliah Veikoso crossed for a try scoring double.
The under-16 Sharks are now tied at the top with Newcastle and the Central Coast after round five of the 2017 Matthews Cup competition.
In the SG Ball it was another controlled performance from the Sharks who went to half time in control and up 20-6 following four first period tries.
Three more four pointers and five goals on the day to half back Luke Metcalf saw the Sharks rack up 38 points and remain the only undefeated team in the SG Ball following their four win from as many starts.
The three Sharks team are at home again next Saturday in round six matches, the boys to take on Manly, the Tarsha Gale girls the Canterbury Bulldogs.
SG Ball
Cronulla Sharks 38
Jaemon Salmon, Tom Caughlan, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Franklin Pele, Dylan Smith, Angus Ernst, Bronson Xerri tries; Luke Metcalf 5 goals
def
Illawarra Steelers 16
S McCann, Z Weatherall, M Delbanco tries; Z Weatherall 2 goals
Matthews Cup
Cronulla Sharks 24
Eliah Veikoso 2, Douglas Levi, Moses Lolohea, Zac Issa tries; Thomas Demeio 2 goals
def
Illawarra Steelers 16
H Sutton 2, M Feagai tries; A Schoupp, J Sullivan goals
Tarsha Gale
Sharks 26
Tayla Preston 2, Kersal Johnson, Akira Kelly, Sophie Buller tries, Preston 3 goals
lost to
Illawarra 30
