The Matthews Cup and SG Ball Sharks kept their undefeated records intact with strong wins over a quality opponent in the Manly Sea Eagles in round six matches played yesterday.
The under-16 Matts Cup Sharks were made to work for their win, a late try sealing an 18-10 victory, while in a battle between first and third the Sharks SG Ball side proved far too good in running away with a40-10 triumph.
Unfortunately the story wasn’t quite as positive for the Tarsha Gale Sharks women’s 18’s squad who slipped to a second consecutive loss in going down by 34-10 to the Bulldogs.
The good news for the Tarsha Gale girls is the fact that they remain near the top of the table and look assured of a finals berth.
But in the rain and grey skies it was the boys who were shining at the Academy Fields at Cronulla High, with two quick tries putting the Matthews Cup Sharks 12-0 in front, a score they would take to the half time break and leaving Manly with it all to do in the second stanza.
To their credit the Sea Eagles fought back to 12-10 Sharks before a Kitione Kautoga try inside the final five minutes confirmed the result.
In the SG Ball clash to follow the Sharks handled the slippery conditions much better from the outset and it was Tieg Wilton who would break the deadlock the back rower showing clever footwork and good strength close to the line.
Luke Metcalf added the extra two to make it 6-0, Manly responded with a try of their own, but it would be the Sharks half back to break the game open, two tries to Metcalf, the first a long range effort after scooping up a loose ball, extended the lead to 18-4 and the home team was well on top.
The Sharks would keep the pressure on, taking a 30-10 lead to the break and the game was as good as gone for Manly, the Cronulla boys taking the points and confirming their position on top of the competition table as the only unbeaten side in the SG Ball so far this year.
Metcalf added a second half try and his three four pointers and six goals saw him notch a personal tally of 24 points.
Playing the final game of the afternoon the Tarsha Gale girls found the Bulldogs to be difficult opponent and after falling behind 10-0 early were never able to recover.
Georgia Healey and Sophie Buller were the try scorers as the Sharks girls saw their record slip to three wins and two losses from the five games played.
The young Sharks men’s teams are at home again next weekend when they play the Parramatta Eels (Matthews Cup) and West Coast Pirates (SG Ball), while the Tarsha Gale Sharks travel to Canberra to take on the Raiders.
Matthews Cup
Sharks 18
Kitione Kautoga, Isaac Masima, Damon Smith tries, Tom Demeio 3 goals
beat
Manly 10
SG Ball
Sharks 40
Luke Metcalf 3, Tieg Wilton, Isaac Longmuir, Tom Caughlan, Jaemon Salmon tries. Metcalf 6 goals
beat
Manly 10
Tarsha Gale
Sharks 10
Georgia Healey, Sophie Buller tries, Mackenzie Beames goal
lost to
Bulldogs 34
See photo galleries from the three games, courtesy of ourfootyteam.com.
Tarsha Gale Cup
http://www.ourfootyteam.com/2017_nswrl_tarsha_gale_cup_rnd_6_sharks_v_bulldogs.php
Harold Matthews Cup
http://www.ourfootyteam.com/2017_nswrl_hmc_rnd6_sharks_v_seaEagles.php
SG Ball Cup
http://www.ourfootyteam.com/2017_nswrl_sgBall_rnd6_sharks_v_seaEagles.php
