The Matthews Cup and SG Ball Sharks both started their 2018 campaigns with round one victories against the Central Coast in matches played earlier today.
The under-16 Matthews Sharks dusted off the rust of a long pre-season with a comfortable 22-4 win, while the Ball Sharks overran their opponents in the second half in notching a 48-8 victory to also get their season underway on a winning note.
In the Matthews Cup the Sharks were on the board early when centre Jordan Samrani crashed over wide out, before Noah Lester crossed for his teams' second in the south-western corner of Southern Cross Group Stadium in almost an identical position to where the first try was scored.
Samrani kicked the second of the two conversion attempts, with the Sharks taking the 10-0 advantage to the half time break.
Back rower Max Scanlon made it 14-0 after scoring early in the second period, with the Samrani kick at goal extending the margin to 16.
Next it was the turn of Kade Dykes to score, the Sharks half back showing some clever footwork to beat some tired defenders close to the Central Coast line, the conversion pushing the score out to 22-0.
The Central Coast would manage a consolation four pointer after collecting a poor Sharks kick as the full-time siren was sounding, making the final score 22-4 to the home team.
Overall it was a solid first hit out for the Sharks, with Coach Daniel Holdsworth likely to be thrilled with the defensive effort, if a little less pleased with a number of first half errors which put his team under pressure.
In the SG Ball match that followed the Sharks were on the board early through winger Eliah Veikoso , then fullback Declan Casey doubled the lead with a try shortly after to make it 8-0.
Two more four pointers, one each to Vito Tevaga and Nathan Atkinson, both converted by Kai Broadhurst, took the score out to 20-0 at the break.
The second half would follow a similar pattern, with the Sharks going on with the job in notching a strong first up win.
The two Sharks junior rep sides, along with the Tarsha Gale girls who had a first round bye, will be in action again next Saturday when they play the Bulldogs at the Sharks Academy Fields at Cronulla High School.
MATTHEWS CUP
Sharks 22
Noah Lester, Kade Dykes, Jordan Samrani, Max Scanlon tries, Samrani 3 goals
beat
Central Coast 4
Bailey Frost try
SG BALL
Sharks 48
Eliah Veikoso 2, Vito Tevaga 2, Nathan Atkinson 2, Kai Parker, Thomas Demeio tries, Kai Broadhurst 6 goals
beat
Central Coast 8
Tyson James, Fletcher Berry tries
