Sharks remain unbeaten after comeback win over Raiders
Cronulla have extended their unbeaten start to the NRLW season with a gritty 24-12 come-from-behind win against Canberra.
The Sharks waited until less than half an hour left in the game to score their first points on Saturday, having looked completely out of the contest against a strong Raiders outfit.
Captain Tiana Penitani was sensational for the Sharks, running for a game-high 180 metres and busting through six tackles.
Once Penitani broke the flood gates with a sensational solo try in the 46th minute, out-muscling four Canberra defenders to score in the corner, it was all Cronulla.
The swelling GIO Stadium crowd was silenced as the visitors scored five tries in a 17-minute blitz to lift themselves atop the ladder with their third straight win.
“I’m really proud of the girls and their effort today,” Penitani said after fulltime.
“I think we had a few stern words in the sheds at half time. We probably gave them a lot of cheap field position in the first half, and we knew that that’s exactly how they like to play.”
The Raiders had dominated the opening period but had just one try to show for it. Madison Bartlett opened the scoring after Mackenzie Wiki got the better of Cronulla winger Georgia Ravics.
Canberra’s lethal left edge attack were at it again in the second half, with Bartlett’s second try extending the home side’s lead to 12 points soon after the break.
But the Sharks’ defence finally found some teeth, shutting out the Raiders for the last 30 minutes.
In the earlier game in Gosford the Sydney Roosters had a comeback 20-4 win over Wests Tigers, with star centre Jess Sergis crossing late to wrap up the victory.
It was the Tigers’ 10th loss in a row, stretching back to last year.
The Tigers dominated field position in the opening 20 minutes and deserved the opening try to winger Tess Staines after a line dropout from the Roosters was swooped upon by centre Leianne Tufuga.
Wests were in the face of the Roosters with aggressive defence to force errors and frustration from the Tricolours.
The Tigers also lost winger Harmony Crichton (knee) early.
Fullback and captain Botille Vette-Welsh was involved in everything for Wests as they took a 4-0 lead into the break.
Roosters captain and No.6 Isabelle Kelly always looked likely to get her side going and she went on a powerful surge down the touchline to unfurl a trademark offload for winger Jayme Fressard who levelled the score in the 40th minute.
Tigers forward Kezie Apps was also a casualty after the break as her side showcased grit and resolve in adversity.
Roosters and Jillaroos forward Olivia Kernick was all class to break the deadlock with a scything run which highlighted her footwork and power.
Sergis, who had sustained a knee injury minutes earlier, iced the win with a 68th minute try. It was the seventh NRLW game in a row that she had crossed.
Frassard scored her second on the cusp of full time
#Sharks #remain #unbeaten #comeback #win #Raiders