The Sharks Matthews Cup, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale teams hosted the Newcastle Knights on Friday afternoon in their final trial matches before the start of the 2019 season.
The three Sharks teams, along with Academy 15's and 17's squads, were in action at the Academy Fields at Cronulla High School against strong Newcastle outfits.
The Matthews Cup and 17's Academy fixtures opened proceedings with both fields in action, in warm conditions at Cronulla High.
The Matthews Sharks began slowly before working their way back into the contest, however the Knights proved a little too strong on the day in scoring five tries to two, leaving the under 16 Sharks with some work to do ahead of their season-opener in two weeks time.
Christian Dixon and Siteni Taukamo were the Sharks try scorers.
It was a similar story and scoreline in the SG Ball trial, with the under 18 Sharks having their moments but giving up five tries to their opponents. Forwards Jess Colquhoun and Josh Finau crossed the stripe for the Cronulla side.
The final game of the afternoon saw the two Tarsha Gale Grand Finalists from 2018 renew acquaintances and it was the Newcastle girls turning the tables on the defending premiers in a five tries to one triumph.
With few returnees from 2018, the Tarsha Sharks head into the season with a young squad and inexperienced, but enthusiastic squad.
As for the two Academy games, the 15s Sharks were dominant and the 17's competitive in matches giving them a taste of what to expect in the junior representative arena.
The Matthews, Ball and Tasha Gale Sharks begin their seasons with home matches against the Illawarra Steelers on February 9.
Harold Matthews Cup
Cronulla 8
TRIES : Christian Dixon, Siteni Taukamo
Knights 20
TRIES : Oryn Keeley 2, Chris Veaila, Sean Walker, Macauley Aoake
SG Ball
Cronulla 8
TRIES : Jess Colquhoun, Josh Finau
Knights 20
TRIES : Ryan Shaw 2, Ethan Campbell, Callan Burgess, Christian Maanama
Tarsha Gale Cup
Cronulla 4
TRIES : Jamie Chapman
Knights 20
TRIES : Caitlan Joghnson, Carrissa Harrison 2, Cody Campbell, Ella Budeaux
For photo galleries, courtesy of Steve Montgomerie and Ourfootyteam.com, go to the following links.
Matthews Cup - Sharks v Knights
https://www.ourfootyteam.com/2019_nswrl_hmc_trial_sharks_v_knights.php
SG Ball - Sharks v Knights
https://www.ourfootyteam.com/2019_nswrl_sgBall_trial_sharks_v_knights.php
Tarsha Gale - Sharks v Knights
https://www.ourfootyteam.com/2019_nswrl_tarsha_gale_cup_trial_sharks_v_knights.php
Following pics - Sharks Media
