The NYC Sharks have defeated the New Zealand Warriors 42-4 at Mount Smart Stadium on Friday evening.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the second minute when Ryan Carr crashed over from close range. After receiving a penalty, the Sharks kicked down field and worked themselves into good scoring position.
The prop received the ball on the Warriors 10m line and proved too strong for the defensive line, to score the Sharks’ first try of the night.
Kyle Flanagan converted the try and the Sharks would lead 6-0 after 4 minutes.
The Sharks would hit back in very quick succession when they worked the ball down their left edge and into space. A deft pass from Isaac Lumelume found Josh Tuilagi in space however it was the finish from Tuilagi where he bumped off the fullback before barging over which made the try special.
Flanagan’s sideline conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the score remained 10-0 after six minutes.
Piling the pressure on the Warriors, it began to take it’s toll on the homeside with silly errors beginning to creep into their game.
Working the ball down field, the ball came to five-eight Luke Metcalf who punted down field to winger Gibson Popoalii. The winger brought the ball back to the line however try to force an offload late in the tackle.
Metcalf scooped up the loose ball and was too quick for the Warriors defence, touching down next to the posts. Flanagan’s conversion was successful and the Sharks’ lead was extended to 16-0 after 14 minutes.
The Warriors were next to hit back, with the home crowd rolling in for the NRL fixture behind them. They moved the ball down their left edge and centre Dean Kouka-Smith crashed over to get his side on the board. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the score remained 16-4.
Not to be outdone by the try, the Sharks got back to business working the ball through the middle of the park, making good metres in the process.
They worked themselves inside the Warriors 10m line and hooker Blayke Brailey spotted an opening around the ruck and took his opportunity to cross over under the posts.
Flanagan’s conversion was successful and the score went to 22-4.
With the clock winding down, the Sharks did not take their foot off the accelerator. The Sharks played the ball down their right wing, with Sione Katoa having a stack of work to do to cross over.
The agile winger put on a step in an attempt to out play his opposite number before diving over in the corner in spectacular fashion to extend the Sharks lead even further.
Flanagan’s conversion was unsuccessful and the score remained 26-4 at the half time break.
Back from the half time break, the Sharks looked to extent their lead even further. They did just that as Joshua Carr made a half break in midfield and managed to get the ball free to a flying Isaac Lumelume who dashed off 20 metres to get his first try of the night.
Flanagan’s conversion was unsuccessful and the score remained 30-4 after 48 minutes.
The rain then began to pour down, forcing both sides to play without any flair. This was seen on the scoreboard with neither side able to cross the tryline.
It would be the Sharks though who would break the drought when Kyle Flanagan swooped on a grubber out of dummy half from Brailey to put the Sharks further in the lead.
Flanagan converted his own try and the lead was now 36-4 after 67 minutes.
The Sharks closed out the match with what may have been the try of the night when Sione Katoa broke through the middle of the field before off-loading to a flying Metcalf on the inside who went in for his second try of the night.
Flanagan converted the try and the Sharks would be victorious 42-4 and win their 12th game in a row.
