AS preparation begins for the Group 16 finals the Moruya Sharks reserves overcame a slow start to beat Narooma 36-18 at Ack Weyman Oval on Sunday.
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A few early dropped balls helped Narooma lead 6-nil after 16 minutes.
The Sharks surged to lead 14-6 at the half-time break after tries to Jacob Zutt, hooker Zeke Moreton and fullback Aaron Russell.
Early in second half the Sharks showed their dominance with tries to Ned Brogan and Shaun Staples.
Nathan McDiarmid converted both to put his side up 26-6.
The Moruya reserves have been guilty of letting good leads sneak away and it looked like Narooma were getting in on the act.
The Devils scored two quick, converted tries and the opposition comeback looked ominous as they trailed 26-18.
The Sharks, led by captain Juy Cooper, defended well and were rewarded with a try to Troy Potts, which was converted by Craig Cottington and Moruya led 32-18 with two minutes to play.
Juy Cooper saved himself from a “nudey run” when he streaked past the defence, sprinting 60 metres and falling over in the corner to score right on the final siren.
“The boys did really well after some early mistakes,” Cooper said.
“Losing our star forward Warren Potts was surely a big worry, but Gamble, McDiarmid, Brogan, Ayton and Moreton took on the load.
“Our back line is working well with Merv Brierley’s return and big efforts from Jones, Staples, Potts, Williams and Russell.
“The experience of Cottington and Dean Butler is essential for a successful finals campaign.”
On Sunday, the third-placed Moruya Sharkettes came up against fourth-placed Narooma.
The Sharkettes failed to put any points on the board against the visiting team and were soundly beaten 18-nil.
Coach Lana Badullovich said the team was disappointed with its performance.
“All the girls were disappointed with their performance on the weekend, and with their lack of urgency and commitment,” Badulovich said.
“While disappointed, they have plenty of improvement in them and they are confident of a much improved performance next weekend against Candelo-Bemboka.”
Moruya Sharks under 18s saved their best performance for the second last game of the regular season.
The team achieved its first win of the year, defeating Cooma 32-18 at Ack Weyman Oval.
The Sharks defended Cooma’s big hitting forward runs early in the first half and countered with two tries against the run of play.
Dummy half Jacob Hill scored and second-rower Tyson Moritz scored and Jacob Zutt converted both to put the Sharks up 12-nil.
The momentum swung Cooma’s way when they scored three consecutive converted tries in the next 10 minutes.
Sharks’ hooker Hill scored his second try on the half-time whistle and the Sharks went into the sheds trailing 18-16.
Either coach Justin Zutt fired the squad up at half-time or the team followed through on its promise of guts and determination as they kept Cooma scoreless in the second stanza.
Hayden Murray, Lachlan Jones and Jesse Robertson scored second half tries and Zutt converted two, to give the Sharks a 14-point win.
After the game coach Justin Zutt was very pleased with the team’s performance.
“I’m so proud of the boys, we’ve been so close all year and it’s about time we took the chocolates,” he said.