THE Moruya Sharks lifted in the second half to post a 42-14 win against the Batemans Bay Tigers in the final round of the Group 16 first grade competition at Ack Weyman Oval on July 18.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was a sloppy game with plenty of dropped ball allowing each side to score from good field position in the first half.
Tigers five-eighth Brent Pan scored the first of his two tries after four minutes and his side led 4-nil.
Moruya took the lead after 27 minutes, through barging runs from Billy Halligan and Dillon Johnston, who each scored, and Pat McMahon's conversion of Johnston's try gave the home side a 10-4 lead.
Ten minutes before half-time Marcus Golman scored in the corner and Gerard Dennis's conversion from the sideline drew cheer from Tigers fans as the away team tied the game.
An intercept by Sharks' fullback Dennis Green, followed by two passes, set up Jacob Hope-Hodgetts for a barge-over try and McMahon's conversion which hit the posts and went through gave his side an 16-10 lead.
Seconds before half-time McMahon scored in the corner after Aaron Brierley left the Batemans Bay defence scattered and Moruya led 20-10 at the break.
Under 18s player Niles Brigden scored a try early in the second stanza to give Moruya a 24-14 lead.
After 60 minutes, Pan snatched an intercept off a scrum play deep in the Tigers' half and scored to give the Bay a sniff at 24-14.
The Tigers had plenty of opportunity but dropped ball and the wall of Sharks' defenders kept the away team at bay.
McMahon sealed his hat-trick off some smooth short passing by Aaron Brierley.
Brierley put him in a gap in the Sharks' half before McMahon passed to Cohen McGrath, who was adeptly stopped by Tigers' fullback Mick Tadich metres from the try line.
However, McMahon scooted from McGrath's quick play-the-ball and crossed in the corner.
Brierley and Dennis Green worked some chip and chase magic to seal the match and McGrath scored in the shadows of full-time to give Moruya a 42-14 win.