The Jersey Flegg Sharks remained firmly in the race for a Finals berth with a solid 36-16 win over the Canberra Raiders in their round 24 clash.
After a first half that saw five lead changes, the young Sharks asserted their authority on the contest in the second 40 minutes, two tries from half back Liam Challenor helping to confirm a crucial victory.
With two rounds remaining, the Jersey Flegg Sharks sit in fifth position on the ladder, with a bye and a game against the Parramatta Eels to finish their regular season.
After being denied when held up over the line just moments earlier Nikora Williams managed to open the Sharks account when he crashed over in the north-western corner of Ocean Protect Stadium on the end of an exchange of passes.
Fullback Callum Grantham converted from a wide angle and after eight minutes the Sharks led 6-0.
An error from the kickoff, when a wicked bounce saw the ball go over the sideline, resulted in a Canberra scrum and feed and from the first play they would respond, fullback Saxon Innes reaching out to score.
The conversion sailed wide leaving the home side still in front at 6-4, however that lead would be short-lived, a penalty gifting the Raiders field position and then on the back of three-repeat sets a try to half back Callum Dowell, converted from adjacent to the posts gave the visitors a four-point advantage at 10-6.
Despite being on the back foot the Sharks hung in and were rewarded for their resilience when Richie Whalebone outjumped the Raiders fullback in winning possession of the ball, before an off-load to Jai Davies in support saw the front rower carry three defenders over the line for his teams second try of the game.
Grantham was again on target, and the Sharks were back in front at 12-10 with 15 minutes left in the first half.
Two dubious decisions in the following exchanges went against the Sharks and taking advantage the Canberra side would re-take the lead with a try under the uprights, making the score 16-12 Raiders, but the first half scoring wasn’t over, Cronulla hooker Jai Camilleri diving over from dummy half shortly after, with Grantham adding the extras.
It was the fifth lead change in the opening 40 minutes with the Sharks going to the break up by 18-16.
After defending their line early in the second period, the Sharks marched downfield and it was a Challenor pass to Elijap Paea which would extend the Cronulla teams lead, the centre crossing just three minutes into the second half. With Grantham’s conversion took the score to 24-16.
Two Challenor tries, backing up a line break, then after shrugging off a tackle and touching down wide out, confirmed the win for the Sharks side.
An injury to centre Nikora Williams was the only negative, with his ankle issue to be assessed in the coming days.
