The Jersey Flegg Sharks have scored a strong win away from home, beating the Melbourne Storm 36-12 in their round 19 match played at AAMI Park.
In a game played as the curtain-raiser to the Storm v Titans NRL clash, the Sharks dominated the first half, taking a 24-0 lead to half time, before going on with the job after the break.
It was a win which saw the young Cronulla side move to fourth on the Jersey Flegg ladder as the season moves towards the business end.
The Sharks victory was built on an outstanding first half performance from their forward pack, with Jai Davies, Lachlan Araullo and Thomas Dellow leading the way in getting the better of their opposition, while Ethan Van Gelderen enjoyed what was arguably his best game in Sharks colours, the backrower crossing for three tries on the day.
Val Gelderan was first across the line, crashing through from close range in the seventh minute, Richard Whalebone scored the Sharks second when capitalising on a Storm error, while Dellow helped his team push the lead out further when showing good strength to get the ball down under the uprights despite the attention of three or four Melbourne defenders.
And when Van Gelderan bagged his second in the 21st minute, the try converted by fullback Callum Grantham, the Sharks had taken a commanding 24-0 lead.
While the second period wasn't as clinical as the first, a smart four-pointer from Araullo in making the score 28-0 probably put the result beyond doubt, with second rower Yuri Hromow backing up a Davies off-load and an Araullo line break to cross for the Sharks final try
While the big boys in the middle had a major influence on the result, so too did five eighth Ashton Simmons who kicked will and was clever with his game control, hardworking hooker Xavier Cacciotti and Grantham who was safe and the back.
Two more of the middle forwards in Stefano Sele and Jack White, who came into the game from the interchange bench also played strongly.
Next up for the Flegg Sharks is a game against the Newcastle Knights at Ocean Protect Stadium on Friday afternoon.
