Flegg Sharks start 2023 campaign with a win
The Jersey Flegg Sharks have opened their 2023 campaign with a gritty win over Souths in a match played at PointsBet Stadium.
The Sharks defended grimly for long periods of the match, with an individual effort from, Max Riolo inside the final 10 minutes of the match, the five eighth splitting the line then winning a 30-metre dash to the try line, sealing a 24-6 victory.
The game started on a sombre note when prop Josh Finau, who is currently on an NRL development contract and trains with the full-time squad, limped from the field after being twisted awkwardly in just the third tackle of the match.
Undeterred the Sharks kept pushing forward and it was hooker Sam Healey, another to have spent the majority of the summer with the NRL boys, diving over from dummy half for the first points of the match.
Riolo, who was perfect with the boot on the night with four from four attempts, converted to put the Sharks up 6-0.
Midway through the half the Sharks would double their advantage, a slick exchange of passing putting Te Wehi Waitere into space, with the winger doing an outstanding job to evade the cover defence, then beat the fullback before improving his position and touching down adjacent to the posts.
With the successful conversion the Sharks were up 12-0 and in control, until a Rabbitohs try from a well weighted grubber kick saw them narrow the gap to 12-6 at the half time break.
Neither side was able add to their score in the first 20 minutes of the second half, however after turning their opponents away with some resolute goal line defence, the Sharks would regain the ascendency and after a period dominating possession, the Riolo try broke the back of the Rabbitohs.
The sideline conversion made it 18-6 Sharks inside the final 10, with the clincher coming from prop Lachlan Crouch after he barged over from close range.
While the Sharks had plenty of strong performers, none were better than Crouch, the front rower extremely effective after being forced to play big minutes following the early injury to Folau.
Crouch was well supported by lock Blake Hosking who got through a mountain of work, while interchange forward Salesi Ataata was powerful through the middle of the field and hooker Sam Healey a constant threat out of dummy half.
The Flegg Sharks are away to the Eels in round 2.
JERSEY FLEGG
SHARKS 24
Max Riolo, Lachlan Crouch, Salesi Ataata, Te Wehi Waitere tries, Riolo 4 goals
beat
SOUTHS 6
