Sharks hold out Bushrangers comeback
The Belconnen United Sharks take the two points after holding out an inspired second half comeback from the Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Greenway Oval.
The Sharks were dominant for the majority of the match, finding themselves up 16 points after 50 minutes, before the Bushrangers found their feet in the contest and forced an exciting finish.
Belconnen dominated field position early, with their forwards rolling up the field and getting to the end of their sets for halves Matt Woolnough and Zac Patch to kick into the corners before jamming Tuggeranong in their end.
The Sharks capitalised when they got within range, with the first try of the match coming through left edge backrower Sonny Tupuola who crashed over after receiving a short ball from Woolnough.
Unforced errors from the Bushrangers kept them stuck in their own end, which provided Belconnen more scoring opportunities.
The Sharks left edge continued to cause problems for Tuggeranong, as winger Connor Massen scored in the corner off a Woolnough cut out pass, followed by centre Tevita Aroha-Tuinauvai barging over not long after to give the Sharks a 16-nil lead after 22 minutes.
Tuggeranong started to get a roll on in attack which saw five-eighth Wesley Alexander-McArthy make plenty of ground from a dummy-half scoot before getting taken down a couple metres short.
Alexander-McArthy was held down too long in the ruck and consequently, Sharks centre Izayah Petricevich was sin binned with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
With just over a minute left till the break, Bushrangers fullback Trae Bennetto chipped over the top then regathered to score under the posts and bring the halftime scores to 16-6 Sharks way.
Belconnen came out of the sheds firing with their forwards rolling up their sleeves again.
The Sharks added to their lead early into the second half through Tupuola barging over to score his second of the afternoon.
After the perfect start to the second half, the Sharks knocked on off the kick off, gifting Tuggeranong a chance to score.
After a few shots at the line, the Bushrangers finally found a way over with Julian Haywood-Whiley scoring in the corner.
The Bushrangers were able to force the game into the grind, where they feel most comfortable.
After a 10-minute period of each side trading sets, it took individual brilliance from Alexander-McArthy to break the game open as he regathered his own kick then tip-toed within the touchline before throwing a perfect flick pass inside to Haywood-Whiley to score his double.
A successful conversion from Liam Oakley sees the Bushrangers trailing by only four points with 15 minutes left.
Tuggeranong had opportunities to score but the Sharks showed grit and determination in their goal-line defence to hold onto a 22-18 victory.
In Round Nine, the Tuggeranong Bushrangers look to bounce back against an inform Blues side, while the Sharks face their Belconnen rivals, the West Belconnen Warriors.
