After two straight losses to end the regular season, including a heavy round 17 belting by the Knights, the Sharks were in a committed mood in a match marred by freezing southerly winds and rain, but in the end they produced a superb second half defensive effort to move to within one win of a grand final berth.

Running with the wind in the first half, they got a great start with lock Dylan McGregor forcing his way over and Matt Carroll’s conversion saw them lead 6-nil.

However the Knights then produced  apiece of their own magic when half Cameron Vazzoler found a flying Cameron Cornell who crossed in the corner. Kicking into and across the breeze, Vazzoler was unable to convert.

The Sharks hit back again midway through the half when veteran winger Jamie Manukonga scored in the corner to extend their lead to six, before Vazzoler had a try of his own right on half-time for the Knights to close the gap to just two at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, the Knights should have had an enormous advantage, however the conditions eased somewhat for the second 40 minutes, playing into the Sharks hands.

The Sharks couldn’t have got a better start after the break and soon seemingly had the game in their keeping when Matt Carroll and Ryan McCracken added quick tries and with Carroll converting both, the home side led 22-8.

The Sharks defence was proving a problem for the lighter Knights pack in the slippery conditions and the Knights did eventually manage to breathe some life back into the game when winger Jay Delaney showed great pace to win the race for the ball in the in-goal, but unfortunately it proved too little - too late for the Knights.

“It was great to see the boys turn up, after a tough couple of weeks and dig deep for one another,” Sharks coach Abed Atallah said.

“Obviously the conditions were tough and we probably didn’t adjust as well as we would have liked in the first half but in the second half, I’m proud of how hard the boys worked.

“Kiama had plenty of chances to get back in the game, on the back of our mistakes but the boys battled hard and defended up to four sets at a time on our own line and didn’t give an inch – which is the most pleasing thing.

“We still have a couple of little things to work on but the boys are looking forward to the challenge of taking on Jamberoo this Sunday.”

Atallah praised the efforts of Dylan McGregor, Abe  Atallah, Ryan McCracken, Matt Caroll and Brock Skelly, who all stood up and led from the front during the win.