A Raiders field goal in extra time has seen the Jersey Flegg Sharks go down by 19-18 in their week one qualifying finals clash at Campbelltown Stadium.
With the two teams locked at 18-apiece after the regulation 70 minutes a Canberra field goal in the first half of the overtime period would be enough to deny the Sharks and to send the young Cronulla side into a sudden-death match next weekend.
Ironically in the only meeting between the Flegg Sharks and Raiders during the regular season a field goal also decided the outcome, the Sharks winning on that occasion by the one point in a game played in Canberra.
The defending premiers and this years minor premiers, the Sharks led early, fell behind by 18-8, before mounting a spirited comeback to level the scores at full-time, only to eventually fall to the Raiders in a nail-biting finish.
In the blustery conditions the Sharks scored twice early, fullback Jonaiah Lualua and impressive winger Josh Delailoa touching down as they took an 8-0 lead.
The Raiders scored in the final minutes of the first half as the teams went to the break with the Sharks ahead 8-6, before two tries in quick succession early in the second period put the Raiders up 18-8.
The Sharks rallied late, Delailoa getting across the line for two more tries and when Lualua converted the second in the 67th minute the teams were headed for extra time.
With no golden point in the Jersey Flegg competition the teams needed to play 10 minutes to decide the result, with the Canberra one-pointer early in the overtime period enough to give them a weekend off and to send them to the Grand Final qualifying finals game in two weeks time.
For the Sharks they will now attempt to pick themselves up and go again next week in a sudden-death final.
They will await the results from elimination games scheduled for later today (Sunday) before knowing their opponents next weekend.
SHARKS 18
Josh Delailoa 3, Jonaiah Lualua tries, Lualua goal
lost to
RAIDERS 19
