The heartbreaking finish to their title defence continued with the Jersey Flegg Sharks losing a second-consecutive finals match in extra time.
After going down by a point to the Raiders last weekend, extra time was required to spilt the Sharks and Rabbitohs in a sudden-death finals clash and again the young Cronulla side has come up short, Souths scoring late in clinching a 36-31 victory.
The Jersey Flegg minor premiers, it was a shattering end to a promising season for a Sharks side which claimed the 2018 under-20’s title in impressive fashion.
On this occasion, in a match which had numerous lead changes, the Sharks appeared to have booked a place in a Grand Final qualifying match the following week when a Vito Tevaga try put his side up by two points with under five minutes left on the clock.
Before the Sharks could celebrate however the match officials decided a penalty was warranted for a late tackle and when Souths were successful with a kick at goal the two teams were locked at 30-all and set for extra time.
Again the Sharks got their noses in front when Angus Ernst slotted a field goal but with Flegg playing out a 10-minute overtime period rather than the Golden Points format preferred by the NRL, there was time for the the Rabbitohs to respond.
And respond they would, with time almost up Souths would cross for the match winner, sending the Sharks home despondent while booking themselves a spot in the Grand Final qualifying round next week.
Despite their unfortunate exit following the loss at Leichhardt Oval today, the 2019 season could be described as a successful one for the Sharks, who under the coaching of Daniel Holdsworth finished two points clear on top of the Flegg ladder at the end of the regular season.
From their the two extra-time losses were disappointing, however the Sharks have unearthed a number of exciting prospects for the future, many who will push up into the full time NRL training group this summer.
SHARKS 31
Jonah Ngaronoa, Thomas Hazelton, Jackson Stewart, Jayden Millard, Vito Tevaga tries, Jonaiah Lualua 4 goals, Lachlan Scarpelli goals, Angus Ernst field goal
Lost to
SOUTHS 36
