Charging forward: Danny Graham takes a hitup for the Sharks. Pic: PETER GLEESON
PORT Macquarie Sharks defended to the death in the latter stages of the second half to score a good Carlton Mid Group 2 win over Coffs Harbour Comets on Saturday night.
The Sharks won 16-10 at Port Macquarie’s Regional Sports Stadium, despite their opposition having the lion’s share of possession
for the majority of the
second half.
It wasn’t all good news for the Sharks though, with two serious injuries in the match.
Tyrone Nelson was stretchered off with pain
in his leg, and captain Michael Bright was helped from the field with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
“He (Bright) said he heard cracks on both sides of his knee,” Sharks coach Anthony Fenton said.
“But we’ll know more when we get some scans done.”
James Kelly, Ben Read and Nick Cooke scored tries for the Sharks, but it was the side’s defence that impressed Fenton.
“I’m truly proud of them,” he said.
“They all put their hands up tonight.”
Kelly opened the scoring when he scooted from dummy half 15 minutes in.
Read’s converted try doubled the lead 15 minutes later.
He was on the end of a good Sharks try.
“They put it through the hands, there was a couple of kicks and then he went in,” Fenton said.
“It was a lucky try, but the harder you work, the luckier you get.”
The Comets came home fast, with two tries in the final 20 to make the Sharks nervous.
Cooke scored in the final five minutes to seal the win.
Fenton was less impressed with some of the refereeing decisions made, including where a Coffs Harbour try was given when a fight had broken out in back play.
The referee awarded a try, despite sending a Coffs
player to the sin bin.
“It was unbelievable,” he said.
“It was equally as bad for both sides. The Coffs coach came into our sheds after the game and we spoke about it.”
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