In firing a warning shot to the rest of the Holden Cup competition the NYC Sharks have registered a record-breaking 84-6 victory over the Wests Tigers.
The 84-points was the highest score in the history of the under-20’s competition, while the 78-point winning margin equaled the previous best mark in what was a spectacular attacking performance from the young Sharks.
The Sharks scored 15 tries, Briton Nikora claiming a first half hat trick, with halfback Kyle Flanagan notching 32 points for an impressive personal tally made up from two tries and 12 goals from 15 attempts.
The Sharks jumped out of the blocks quickly with two tries in the opening 10 minutes, the first to Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga, the second to Nikora and after Kyle Flanagan uncharacteristically missed both kicks it was 8-0 to the home team.
The Tigers hit back with a try adjacent to the posts to narrow the margin to just two points, but from there the Sharks hit the accelerator and pulled away in the remainder of the first half.
Exploiting an advantage down their right side Nikora scored two more, Sione Katoa would cross and when Billy Magoulias and Josh Carr also managed to get across the stripe in the middle of the field it was 36-6 to the Sharks at half time.
No doubt with a message from coach John Morris to finish what they had started the Sharks began the second period on the front foot and added to their lead just three minutes into the half.
After five attempts to break the Tigers line a Blayke Brailey grubber on the last was grounded by Flanagan and with the simple conversion the Sharks went up by 42-6.
Now with their foot well and truly on the throats of their opponents the Sharks showed no mercy, tries to Josh Tuilagi out wide and then Kalani Pewhairangi-Charlie through some ordinary Tigers defense, followed by two more Flanagan conversions and the Cronulla side had brought up the half century with the Sharks 54-6 ahead with still 24 minutes of the match remaining.
A Tony Matautia try and the goal that followed pushed the score to 60, Jack Williams sliced through and dashed 25-metres to make it 64, with the Flanagan goal and it was 66-6 Sharks.
A long-range try, finished off by fullback Will Kennedy, with Flanagan adding the extras and the score was 72-6, Flanagan dummied through to touch down for his second, before a length of the field effort, Matautia scoring his second following a Johnathan Tufuga break completing the scoring with the Sharks resounding winners.
Already on top of the NYC table the Sharks certainly enhanced their position and padded their for-and-against with the win.
SHARKS 84
Briton Nikora 3, Tony Matautia 2, Kyle Flanagan 2, Sione Katoa, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga, , Billy Magoulias, Josh Carr, Josh Tuilagi, Kalani Pewhairangi-Charlie, , Jack Williams, Will Kennedy tries, Flanagan 12 goals from 15 attempts
Beat
TIGERS 6
Siaosi Nasilia try, James Tautaiolefua goal
