Two wins for young Sharks in home triple-header

Sharks Media

4 days ago3 min read

It was another fruitful round for Cronulla's Junior Representative sides on Saturday, banking two impressive wins from three matches at Cronulla High School.

While the Lisa Fiaola girls showed heart in a fighting 20-6 loss to the high-flying Eels, their Tarsha Gale counterparts cemented themselves in the top four with a 36-14 victory that knocked Parramatta off the top spot.

Completing the triple-header, the SG Ball Sharks ran riot against the Bears with a dominant 46-10 victory, scoring eight tries, including a double from fullback Oliver Lester.

After back and forth errors to begin the Lisa Fiaola match, it was only a matter of time before either team struck. In the 20th minute, Eels centre Georgia Wansey snared the first points to put the visitors ahead 4-0.

The score remained the same at halftime, with the game proving to be an arm-wrestle. However, the Sharks were very much still in the battle.

Cronulla came out striking after the break, but concrete defence from the Eels was almost impossible to crack. Parramatta once again produced some solid attack which led to a try for winger Freedom Crichton Ropati, taking the score to 8-0, followed by a second four-pointer to Wansey in the 43rd minute.

The Eels showed their determination with winger Sienna Bonello scoring their fourth try in the 52nd minute, pushing the lead to 16-0.

With the final stretch of the match approaching, the Sharks hit back with a try to Manawanui James, successfully converted by Jade Pawson. However, a second try to Crichton Ropati in the last minute sealed the deal for Parramatta.

Though the Lisa Fiaola girls couldn't take the Round 5 win, the Tarsha Gale squad claimed a convincing victory over the ladder-leading Eels.

The Sharks started fast, with a solid opening set and perfectly-placed kick leading to an Eels mistake which allowed second-rower Brooklyn Allan Kingi to score in the first minute. Lock Marnie Isemonger went over for the Sharks' second in the ninth minute, converting her own try to extend the lead to 10-0.

Isemonger, a standout all game, made a line-break through the middle shortly after scoring to put Cronulla back in great field position. They quickly capitalised with winger Chloe Sheppard crossing in the 11th minute.

In the final third of the first half, the Sharks girls showed no remorse, striking twice with tries to second-rower Manilita Takapautolo and interchange forward Felila Fakalelu to storm into halftime with a near-unassailable 26-0 lead.

An exciting opening to the second half saw both sides get over the line. In the 35th minute, the Eels chalked up their first points through lock Rvrr-Lee Alo, whose try was converted by Alleya Scrivens.

On the back of a penalty, the Sharks responded with Mikayla Langer scoring in the 37th minute to extend the margin to 30-6.

Cronulla continued their unstoppable form minutes later with Arianna Rudwoldt touching down after rock-solid defence forced an Eels mistake. With the conversion, the Sharks held a dominant 36-6 lead. Despite the scoreline, the Eels didn't give up and pinched two tries in the final quarter, both to Jessamine Aloalii.

Rounding out the day's action, the SG Ball Sharks began in blazing fashion with Bailey Leach and Daniel Louka etching their names on the scoresheet inside 10 minutes. The Bears hit back with two tries, but Cronulla held a 22-10 advantage at the break with Thomas Dellow and Oliver Lester also finding the line.

Blake Watman, Lester, Callum Grantham and Prestyn Laine-Sietu helped pile on the points in the second half as the Sharks careered away to complete the rout.

The Sharks' Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams are in action against the Roosters at Cronulla High School in Round 6 this Saturday, while the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale sides will meet the Steelers at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

Check out the selection of photos and links to full galleries from all three games below thanks to Cronulla JRL Photographer - Adam Wrightson.

Remember to visit the official Sharks Website and to follow the Cronulla JRL website and social media channels for all the action and excitement from the 2025 NSWRL junior representative season.

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