The Sharks NYC side have been too good for the Sydney Roosters on the Central Coast, defeating them 32-12.
The Sharks opened the scoring through right-edge back rower Briton Nikora in the 6th minute.
The lean back-rower proved himself to be too strong for his opposite number, barging his way to the Sharks’ first score of the match.
Kyle Flanagan’s conversion attempt was successful and the Sharks were ahead 6-0.
It didn’t take long for the young Sharks to find their groove, as Issac Lumelume extended the Sharks’ lead in the 10th minute, taking advantage of some weak Roosters defence on the eastern side of the field. Conversion hit the upright.
Flanagan’s conversion attempt hit the upright and was waved away.
The Sharks attacking wheels were in motion by this stage and attacking the Roosters, the points were coming.
The Sharks debutant Jaemen Salmon took the ball to the line and after a show and go and jink back on the inside went over to the right of the posts for his first try in the NYC.
Flanagan’s conversion attempt was successful and the lead was now out to 16-0.
Keeping to the fashion of the game, the Sharks were once again in attack and got to within striking distance of the Roosters try line.
Noticing the Roosters defence napping, Blayke Brailey scooped the ball up out of dummy half and strolled over for another Sharks try.
Flanagan’s conversion attempt was good and the Sharks were ahead 22-0 after 25 minutes.
Roosters struck back through left winger Brendan Lewis in the 35th minute after they worked the ball down their left edge. The sideline conversion attempt from Sean O’Sullivan was good and the score was 22-6.
The Roosters struck back soon after when they went over to their right wing snd crossed over through Nick O’Meley after some slick backline play.
O’Sullivan nailed another sideline conversion and the score was 22-10 as the halftime siren sounded.
Both sides took it to each other during the early stages of the second half, with neither side able to pierce the opposition line.
After camping themselves deep in the Roosters territory, it was Sharks who would break the deadlock and extend the lead as Sione Katoa showed a great piece of individual brilliance to dive over in the corner.
Flanagan’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the score remained 26-12 after 50 minutes.
The Sharks were then gifted some easy metres following a simple Roosters penalty and were within good attacking position.
Feeling left out of the try-scoring action, the NYC leading point scorer Kyle Flanagan saw an opportunity and took it, throwing a dummy close to the line and going over for another easy Sharks try.
He would convert his own try and the score would be 32-12 after 64 minute.
It was a genuine arm wrestle for the remainder of the half, with both sides going from end to end with neither able to break the deadlock.
It would be the homeside who would break the deadlock when they went over on the left edge through their fullback Kiah Cooper. The conversion attempt from O'Sullivan was again successful and the Roosters clawed their way back to 32-18 at full-time.
The win sees the Sharks keep their place at the top of the NYC ladder and head into the Bye Round in top spot.
Cronulla Sharks 32 (Tries: Nikora Lumelume, Salmon, Brailey, Katoa, Flanagan. Goals: Flanagan 4/6 convs)
Def.
Sydney Roosters 18
