The Jersey Flegg Sharks have responded in emphatic fashion following a slow start to beat the Wests Tigers 48-32 and progress to week two of the finals.
After falling behind early, the Sharks scored nine straight tries in building a match-winning lead before conceding a couple of late four-pointers when the game became a little loose late in the contest.
While the Sharks had plenty of strong performers on the day, none were better than 17-year-old front rower Jamie Current, who changed the game with a powerhouse stint late in the first half and early in the second.
He was ably supported by the likes of Lachlan Arullo, Tommy Dellow and Jai Davies up front as the Sharks middle forwards dominated their opposition after overcoming the slow beginning to the match.
The game started with the Sharks well and truly on the back foot early, a try in the third minute, two more to the Tigers inside the first 15 minutes of the match, then a penalty goal shortly after and the alarm bells were ringing for the Cronulla side at 20-0 down.
In a game played in hot and breezy conditions, the Sharks failed to match the early intensity of their opponents however they refused to throw in the towel and earning a share of possession and field position managed to battle back.
A Richie Whalebone try when claiming a Marc Tannous bomb, converted by Callum Grantham got the ball rolling, before a moment that would turn the momentum in favour of the Sharks.
Defending their line and a left to right passing movement Pharrel Gray intercepted the ball and what followed was a 90-metre dash to the try line, the Sharks winger brushing off a number of would be tacklers along the way.
It was Gray’s 21st try in 21 Flegg games this season.
Grantham was wide of the mark with his kick at goal, but the Sharks now had a spring in their step at 20-10 down.
Soon after came the injection of Curren into the contest, fresh from playing a role in Endeavour Sports High’s Schoolboy Cup victory mid-week and the big front rower had an immediate impact.
With just his second touch of the football Curren carried three or four defenders over the line, planting the ball down next to the uprights and with Grantham’s successful conversion the Sharks had bridged the gap to just four points.
And Curren was far from finished, a 20-metre run from his own end of the field during the next set of six, followed by an off-load and hooker Jai Camilleri went on a long run downfield. At the end of the set, it was Curren again, powering over from close range and when Grantham added the extras the Sharks led 22-20 at the halftime break.
The Sharks kept the foot on the throat of their opponents early in the second period, backrower Yuri Hromow sliced through to score in the 42nd minute, Camilleri was next to score in the 51st, then from the ensuing kickoff Gray burst through the Tigers defence then passed to Xavier Cacciotti who having just come onto the field ran 40 metres to all but put the result beyond doubt.
Prop Jai Davies and Elijah Paea would add their names to the try scorers list, before the Sharks took the foot off the pedal to an extent allowing two late tries to the Tigers.
Fullback Grantham kicked six goals from nine attempts.
The win by the Sharks sets up a week two Finals match up with the loser of the 2v3 qualifying final, the Panthers or Bulldogs. The Dragons, minor premiers, play the winner of the qualifying final.
The Sharks week 2 final will be played at Leichhardt Oval next Saturday, with a kick off time yet to be confirmed.
