SHELLHARBOUR City Sharks have taken out the 2015 Group 7 Rugby League third grade title with a comprehensive 18-0 win over the Albion Park Outlaws.
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The minor premiers were the competition’s benchmark all year and showed their class in the first half as they jumped out to a 16-0 lead at the interval.
Shellharbour captain/coach Jason Lennard was named Man of the Match after steering his side around the park in a polished display.
The Sharks were given a prime opportunity in the game’s opening minute when the Outlaws spilt the ball on their own line, but couldn’t capitalise on the chance.
They didn’t have to wait much longer for their first points however when they crossed on their next trip down the field.
Classy centre Adam Miller started something out of nothing, dancing around his opposite number to find some space.
Miller found half-back Mick Antaw in support and he raced away to cross under the posts.
Lennard’s conversion gave Shellharbour a 6-0 lead after seven minutes.
The lead would soon double as Miller again caused havoc for the Albion Park defenders.
This time the experienced centre found a half-gap off a scrum win and this time he was the one to touch down under the black dot.
Lennard’s second conversion pushed it out to 12-0.
After Miller’s try, possession swung to the Outlaws and they set up camp on the Sharks’ line.
The Outlaws were presented with a number of opportunities and seemed to have an eternal overlap on the Sharks’ outside defenders.
However, a combination of stout Shellharbour defence and poor execution from the Outlaws meant the score remained unchanged.
When it appeared the Outlaws were gaining the ascendancy, things swung back to the Sharks as Dean Cannon left the Outlaws’ defence reeling.
The hooker took advantage of some poor ruck defence and split the markers before racing 60 metres to score a brilliant solo try and extend the lead to 16-0 at the break.
The first stanza was played a frantic pace, and it showed when the two sides returned to the field as both sides had opportunity after opportunity go begging.
With Shellhabour looking for the knockout blow and the Outlaws a way back into the game, the match became a stop-start affair, scrums and restarts becoming a common occurrence.
The Outlaws finally looked as if they would cross the line when Mitchell Jackson linked up with centre Danny Maxwell, but some desperate cover defence kept him out.
As time ticked away, Shellharbour finally managed to find a way to add to their lead, but it was not the four-pointer they were looking for.
Lennard slotted a penalty goal to make it an 18-0 lead with 12 minutes remaining.
Lennard would have another shot at goal with five minutes remaining in an effort to put the lead beyond three converted tries, but he pushed the shot wide and the score remained unchanged.
For Shellharbour, Lennard, Miller and Cannon had fine games, while Tyne Collins, Dale Stanford and Troy Kowalczyk did all they could for the Outlaws.