THE Moruya Sharks travelled to Bemboka to face the Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs on June 21.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Moruya’s Pat McMahon stepped up and salvaged two competition points with a penalty goal after the siren to give the Sharks a 20-18 victory.
In front of a large and vocal home crowd, the Sharks, who were deserved favourites, were wary of the young and enthusiastic Bulldogs outfit.
The Sharks were flat to begin with and paid the price for their less than enthusiastic start when the Bulldogs were first to score after some good go-forward from its pack.
It worsened for the Sharks minutes later when second-rower Dean Scott was helped from the field with a game-ending knee injury.
Despite the early setbacks the Sharks steadied and worked into the game.
A blind side movement from a scrum set Shaun Staples up with room to move around the halfway mark.
He skirted the Bulldogs’ winger and outpaced the cover defence to score under the posts.
Dennis Green converted and the Sharks took a 6-4 lead; a lead the visitors retained at half-time.
Moruya gained good field position early in the second stanza.
A bustling run and a quick play-the-ball by Billy Hilligan was all hooker Luke Jay needed as he scooted from dummy half to score a four-pointer next to the posts.
Green’s conversion took the Sharks to a 12-4 lead.
The Sharks looked to be well on top, until a deft play by the Bulldogs’ kicker, who feigned the kick before he broke the defensive line and raced 60 metres.
From the ensuing play-the-ball the home side scored and the conversion brought the score to 12-10.
The Bulldogs were full of belief and began to trouble the tiring Sharks’ defence.
The Sharks did not help their own cause with dropped balls and lost opportunities costing it good field position, including two penalty kicks which failed to find the touch line within five minutes.
A disallowed try off a forward pass and a dropped ball over the try line as well as several other botched opportunities by Moruya left the Bulldogs well within striking distance.
After several repeat sets the Bulldogs scored with a try out wide and the home side took a 14-12 lead.
Michael Weyman entered the foray when Green injured his hamstring and it boosted the flagging Sharks.
The side rallied behind Weyman and regained the lead through a try to Dillon Johnston, who was able to barge his way over the line from close range.
The conversion gave the Sharks an 18-14 lead with less than eight minutes on the clock.
The Bulldogs were determined to salvage a win and a deft kick on the fifth tackle set up the home side’s winger, who tied the game 18-all.
The conversion was waved away by the referees and Moruya had four minutes to snatch victory.
The Sharks were able to regain possession after the kick-off and camped on the Merimbula try line, before the side earned a repeat set after a good kick into the in-goal area.
Merimbula’s defence remained solid despite Moruya throwing everything it had and a draw looked likely.
However, the game had one more twist and the referee awarded a penalty to the Sharks for an infringement, 35 metres out and in front of the goal posts.
McMahon stepped up in Green’s absence and calmly slotted the penalty to goal to give his side a hard-fought two-point win.
Sharks coach Tim Weyman experienced being a non-playing coach for the first time and welcomed the win, despite the nerve-racking experience.
The best for the Sharks was Halligan, who provided some go-forward, while Jacob Hope-Hodges, in his first game in the starting line-up, gave a strong performance in both attack and defence.
Others to impress include Brent Ayton and Jacob Zutt, both of whom backed up from a full game of reserve grade.
Luke Jay was solid in defence and provided some much needed spark in attack.
Three best and fairest points went to Halligan, two points to Jake Clarke while Caine Brierley received one point.
The players’ player was Halligan.
The Sharks will need to take stock over the next week with serious injuries to Scott and Green, as well as to several key reserve graders, leaving the player roster looking decidedly thin.
The Sharks are at home to the Eden Tigers on June 28.
Moruya 20 (tries; Shaun Staples, Luke Jay and Dillon Johnston, goals; Dennis Green 2 and Pat McMahon 2) defeated Merimbula-Pambula 18.
Panthers claw reggies
The previously unbeaten Moruya Sharks reserve grade side went down 20-18 against Candelo-Bemboka United at Colombo Park Football Ground.
It was expected to be a torrid affair against last year’s premiers and the Sharks were without playmakers Gavin Olive and forwards Billy Elliott and Hope-Hodgetts, who were promoted to first grade.
The Sharks started poorly and were behind 10-nil early on.
The deficit stung the Sharks into action and the visitors began to display the fighting spirit and resolve that had taken Moruya to the top of the ladder.
By half-time the Sharks had clawed into the contest and had a slender 12-10 lead.
The Sharks were gallant all game but the parochial home ground willed their team to victory as the Panthers won by two points.
Injuries left the reserves grade bench vacant and many of the players were out on their feet from the defensive workload.
Coach Michael Cottington was proud of the effort of his charges and particularly thanked the under 18s for stepping up to help out.
Chris O’Meley was outstanding in both attack and defence while Cohen McGrath and Jacob Zutt put in solid performances.
Others to stand out included Jack Keating, Lee Nye and Adrian Andy, all of whom looked dangerous in attack and gave one hundred per cent, despite carrying injuries into the second half.
Nathan McDiarmid, who always puts in a big effort, was forced from the field with a suspected broken jaw, and will probably miss the rest of the season.
“While beaten on the scoreboard, Moruya can hold its head high for the outstanding effort against a solid side that made the most of their home ground advantage,” Sharks secretary John Cornall said.
Sharkettes split league tag
The Moruya Sharkettes had a busy day, playing both the Candelo-Bemboka Pink Panthers and Merimbula-Pambula Hot Doggies in separate games.
First-up for Moruya were the Hot Doggies and the Sharkettes let Merimbula in for an early try, before it ran away with a well earned 24-6 win.
The Sharkettes faced a determined home team in the second match and the Pink Panthers proved too strong in defence, winning 14-4.
The club praised the Sharkettes for playing with only three reserves and a minimal break.
Cooma rounds up under 18s
Moruya Sharks under 18s were confident of victory against Cooma Stallions at Narooma on Saturday.
It was a different Cooma team to the one which Moruya beat in round two and the Stallions were full of energy.
Cooma’s enthusiasm put Moruya on the back foot and the Sharks trailed 10-6 at half-time.
The Sharks couldn’t improve its ball security in the second half and poor choices didn’t help as Cooma pulled away to a 20-6 lead.
A late consolation try to Moruya reduced the final score to 20-12.
Coach Lee Nye said he was disappointed with the lack of structure and team work, but that he was still confident that his young charges had the ability and skill to be a real force in the competition once they started to play as a team.
The under 18s have a bye next week before playing at Eden on July 5.