The Sharks overcame the loss of stand-in skipper Quincy Dodd to record a dominant 20-6 victory over the Dragons in a hard-fought Indigenous Round derby at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.
It was a tough, wet battle between two sides who needed a win to get their rollercoaster seasons back on track. Cronulla showed immense resilience after hooker Dodd went off minutes before the break with an ankle injury, while Annessa Biddle was sent to the sin bin for the final ten minutes of the first half.
The margin could have been greater, but halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu was unable to convert any of her team's five tries in challenging conditions at Kogarah.
After missing last week with a foot injury, Sharks fullback Emma Verran used her speed to cross for the first try of the afternoon in the sixth minute.
In their first set after points, a strong carry from centre Biddle pushed Cronulla straight back into enemy territory. Winger Georgia Ravics then latched onto a Kiria-Ratu bomb and came down over the line to extend the visitors' lead.
Snatching the Sharks' third four-pointer was winger Cassie Staples off the back of a floating cut-out pass from Verran in the 16th minute.
Biddle was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Maddie Studdon in the 24th minute, putting the Sharks on the back foot in defence.
In a huge blow for the injury-riddled Sharks, Dodd – filling in as captain for Tiana Penitani Gray (concussion protocols) – exited the field on the stroke of half-time. Still, Cronulla held firm to carry a 12-0 lead into the sheds.
Poor discipline from the away side when play resumed handed the Dragons constant possession, however they couldn't capitalise.
Ravics made a break down the sideline to change the swing of the game, only for Dragons fullback Tyra Ekapati to pull off a last-ditch tackle and save a try.
Finally, Staples slid over for her second in the 55th minute to reignite Cronulla's spark, stretching the margin to 16, before 19-year-old Dragons winger Maria Paseka ran 60 metres to collect her side's first and only try.
Capping off a gutsy performance, Ravics joined her wing partner Staples in securing a double when she barged across in the 60th minute.
With troops to return in the coming weeks, the Sharks will continue their push for the finals with a match against the Titans at home next Saturday.
