THE Rockingham Sharks put aside its early season woes to record a superb victory over ladder-topping Joondalup at Admiral Park on Saturday night.
The Sharks scored six unanswered second half tries to walk away with the tie 47-12.
In a game of two halves, the Sharks blew away their hosts with a devastating display of controlled rugby, fighting for every ball, controlling the ruck for large parts of the game and finding the try line on eight occasions.
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READ NOW“Ball control won the game,” coach Darren Shaw said.
“I was really pleased, they were fired up with a lot more energy and wanted it.”
Shaw said he did not really say anything out of the ordinary at the half-time break that saw the Sharks trailing 12-10.
“I just told them to tidy up our discipline as we were 8-2 down in the penalty count, that was all,” he said.
If the Sharks can use this performance as a springboard, control their game and minimise mistakes, 2017 could still be big year.
The Sharks are on the road again this weekend, travelling to South Perth to take on the Lions in round 8.
In earlier games the women’s team went down 12-10, with tries from Gabby Mouat and Shayla Taiwhali; under-18s won 68-10 thanks to tries from Tyler Hunt (4) Tevita Ngaruhe-Tavavulo (3) and Josiah Taviea, Jet Ngamkabam, Kolin Anderson and Quentin Cunningham, (2).
Thirds won 28-10 and reserves won 26-16 with tries from Jayden Toelupe, Yy Jager, Tame Rereiti, Tangimetua Tangimetua and jontrai Meads-Paora.