PORT Macquarie Sharks turned it on in the second half to over-run the Taree City Bulls and all but secure the Group 3 minor premiership on Saturday.
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The Sharks won 64-18 at Regional Stadium as they ran riot over the opposition in the second 40. The home team scored an astonishing 48 points in the second half.
The team scored 13 tries on Saturday, many of which were in a procession of points in the second half.
Prop forward Tom Maguire bagged a hat-trick. Harley Gore, James Kelly and Jake Green scored two each.
Tyrone Nelson, Kurt Molony, Ethan McKenna and Joe Cudmore got single tries.
Dave Geary kicked three goals, McKenna two and Liam Potter one.
Captain coach Matt Shipway had the last kick of the day, but it wasn't successful.
"It was woeful," Sharks president Phil Trembath said.
"His days as a goal kicker are gone. He's a ball playing second rower, not a goal kicker."
It will be hard to reel the Sharks in and deny them the minor premiership now.
After the win, they went six points clear at the top of the table.
Even if the team lost all of its three remaining games and Wauchope Blues won all theirs, the teams would still be equal on 33 points.
The Sharks have a far superior for and against.
"If we lost our remaining three games, we don't deserve to be in the finals," Trembath said.
The women's league tag team was the only Sharks side to go down on Saturday, losing 13-12.
Under 18s took victory 28-18 and reserve grade beat the Bulls 32-16.