The Moruya Sharks have recorded an impressive 20-4 against the Cooma Stallions in round eight of the Group 16 competition.
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Playing at home, the Sharks came into the game on the back of a big win against Bateman’s Bay while Cooma were fresh off a win against last years Grand Finalists, Bega.
The game started with the Sharks looking on track for another big score. They narrowly missed a try when Aaron Brierley chipped a perfectly weighted cross-field kick into the hands of the unmarked winger, who just failed to get the ball down legally. From that point, the Sharks scored at a rate of a point a minute, posting three quick tries to lead 14-0 after just 14 minutes. Caine Brierley latched onto a perfectly timed pass from brother Aaron to open the scoring, with Shaun Staples and hooker Luke Jay also getting in on the act..
After this early onslaught, the Stallions muscled up and found a lot more resolve in defence. The score remained unchanged for the rest of the half as both teams struggled to find continuity and cohesion in attack.
The first half saw the big loss of representative centre, Jake Clarke, with the recurrence of a hamstring tear. Clarke, with Dillon Johnston, was backing up after playing for the Southern Stingrays against the Western Rams in Camden on Saturday afternoon.
The duo has booked a spot for the Stingrays playing Northern Rivers in Dubbo next weekend.
There was more of the same in the second half, with neither side able to control the football long enough to mount any substantial attacking raids. The Sharks put unnecessary pressure on themselves through dropped balls and undisciplined penalties. It took until the 55th minute before the Stallions broke the drought, scoring with a four-pointer from a backline move close to the Sharks line after several repeat sets.
This appeared to spark the Sharks, who were able to regain the ascendancy with a second try to Caine Brierley. Dennis Green’s ensuing conversion took the score to 20-4 in favour of the Sharks.
The remainder of the game saw the play travel from one end to another as both sides looked to capitalise. In the end, the final siren brought a close to what was a scrappy affair, without further score.
The win was the closest game for the Sharks in 2016, and was their toughest as they struggled for cohesion and their normal attacking flair. Coach Tim Weyman praised his troops for keeping the enthusiastic and committed Cooma side to just one try, despite being camped on the Sharks’ tryline for a large portion of the second half. Weyman acknowledged the performance of Cooma, for the way they frustrated the Sharks’ attack.
Weyman named his best as Jacob Zutt, with Luke Jay and Dillon Johnston as usual in the reckoning for best player. Jay also received the players’ player award. Weyman also praised the efforts of first grade debutant Zach Ingram for his wholehearted performance.
In the other grades, the reserves scored a try in the final minute of the game to beat their opponents, while the League Tag and U18s both cruised to crushing victories, 62-0 and 82-0 respectively.
Next week the Sharks are again at home to the Merimbula-Pambula-Candello-Bemboka joint venture club, with five games on offer. The day kicks off at 10am with the first of 2 League-Tag games. The under 18s hit the paddock at 11am, reserve grade at 12-30 and first grade at 3pm.