FOR the Port Macquarie Sharks, the equation is simple.
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To win the Group 2 rugby league crown don’t lose another game.
The Sharks got their finals campaign underway on Saturday with a commanding deconstruction of the Sawtell Panthers, 40-22, at the Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium.
Co-coach Kristian Murphy said it was the perfect start to their crusade.
“I was really happy with the way we ground it out in the first half,” he admitted.
“We wanted to focus on having a high completion rate and I think we did that.
“Not a single player let us down today.”
The defensive effort in the second half was exemplary with only one try leaked in 40 minutes of football.
“Our back-row tackled their backsides off today,” Murphy said.
“We showed a little bit of class when it mattered and were the more focused of the two teams.
“It was a game that pleased me because we stuck to our structure and put them under enormous pressure with our defence.”
The Panthers were the first to score, in the fourth minute, when five-eighth Craig O'Loughlin took advantage of a gaping hole near the ruck and strolled over.
The hosts were swift in their response.
Merely 140 seconds after the visitors rejoiced in taking the lead it was erased.
The Sharks were given a penalty for offside and two tackles later the imposing frame of Matt Blake carried some hapless Panthers defenders with him as he crashed over. Josh Mann was on the money with the conversion and it was locked up six-apiece.
A perfect cut-out ball from Joe Cudmore, only two minutes later, found Adrian Daley jnr at pace and the Sharks were in front 12-6 following Mann’s successful kick.
But Sawtell was not going to let its season end without a battle.
An error from a bomb and the Panthers were in again.
Reserve Neil McCarthy touched down and it was tied up 12-all.
Thirty-two minutes in and Mann was the on the spot in support after a sensational exchange of passes for a real team try. The captain made it three from three with the boot and the home side enjoyed a six-point buffer again.
A loose carry on the way out of the 22 and the Sharks had given their opposition the chance to draw level before half-time and the Panthers obliged.
Josateki Ravueta, who was one of Sawtell's best on the day, scored with only five to go before the break. Steve Spencer missed the conversion and the teams went to the sheds with the Sharks ahead 18-16.
The Sharks hit the ground running in the second half and put on a fantastic 15 minutes of rugby league that took the growl out of the Panthers.
Cudmore scored the first of his two tries only three minutes in.
And, after a little razzle dazzle and many sets of hands Addam Greenaway diced over for a four-pointer on the 52-minute mark. Mann had converted the Cudmore try and Port Macquarie led 28-16.
When a team is able to put on back-to-back tries, the heart can be ripped out of the opposition and this was the fate of the Panthers.
Cudmore crossed again only two minutes after the Greenaway try and, with 26 minutes to go, the Sharks had the game in the bag at 34-16.
The only sign of life from the visitors came after a rare error from Sharks custodian Mann gave the Panthers a gift six points, with Dale Churchland able to collect the spilt ball and falling over the line.
Mann scored his second try late in the game, converted and the Sharks completed the task at hand.
The team will now travel to XXXX and take on the XXXX after they accounted for XXX $$-$ yesterday.
Einstein is not needed here.
The Sharks must win or the season is over.
PORT MACQUARIE SHARKS 40 (Josh Mann 2, Joe Cudmore 2, Addam Greenaway, Adrian Daley jnr, Matt Blake tries; Josh Mann 6 goals) def SAWTELL PANTHERS 22 (Craig O'Loughlin, Dale Churchland, Josateki Ravueta, Neil McCarthy tries; Steve Spencer 2, Nathan Davies conversions)
Reserve grade –
Macleay Valley Mustangs 39 def Woolgoolga Seahorses 12
U18s –
Orara Valley Axemen 22 def Macksville Sea Eagles 20