By Lars Roy at Remondis Stadium
The Wyong Roos are now only one win out of the top eight after defeating the Cronulla Sharks 26-6 last Saturday.
Poor ball security from both sides was the theme for the majority of the first half, until Wyong capitalised in the 31st minute to post the opening points of the match.
Fortune favoured the visitors after a cut-out pass from Alex Langbridge, skimmed the hands of Tekina Vailea backwards and into Shaune Corrigan’s possession.
The try from Corrigan was unconverted by Mark Kheirallah leaving the score at 4-0.
The Sharks hit back five minutes later, after a costly penalty on last tackle by the Roos gifted their opposition a chance in good field position.
Kurt Mann crossed untouched from a terrific short ball by Ben Hampton on the Sharks left edge.
The try was converted, giving the hosts an assumed lead at the break until Wyong scored on the back of a penalty through Eloni Vunakece, right on half time.
The Wyong interchange showed good strength after busting into a half-gap, courtesy of a tip-on from a fellow forward.
Kheirallah was successful with the conversion attempt adjacent to the posts, giving the Roos a four point lead at the break.
Wyong picked up where they left off in the opening exchanges of the second half and were eventually rewarded by their persistence in the 53rd minute.
Wyong halfback, Brock Molan, burrowed over close to the line courtesy of an Alex Langbridge pass who was providing positive energy both in attack and defence.
Kheirallah converted giving the visitors a double digit lead and their biggest of the match at 16-6.
The sets following the Molan try were back-and-forth from both sides until Wyong made the most of yet another attacking opportunity in the 60th minute.
An effective collaboration play between Zene Tetevano and Jono Ford saw left-edge winger, Dale Clacherty, cross for his first of the day.
Despite an unsuccessful conversion from the sideline, the Roos lead was boosted to past two converted tries with under a quarter of the match remaining.
The set after points was controlled by the visitors who found the sideline on last tackle, just 10 metres out from the Sharks line.
Cronulla took their game to a new level however, through strong charges in the middle of the field and hunting defence on the Roos try line.
Despite slick attack, Cronulla were unable to crack Wyong who displayed great scrambling defence on the edges.
Wyong sealed an important victory through Clacherty, who bagged a double right on full time.
The Roos as a result, leapfrog Newtown on the ladder, and are placed on equal points as the Sharks.
Next week Cronulla will take on the Bears at North Sydney Oval, while Wyong will make the trip down to Wollongong to go up against the third placed Cutters in a must-win clash.
Wyong Roos 26 (D Clacherty 2, S Corrigan, E Vunakece, B Molan tries; M Kheirallah 3 goals) def. Cronulla Sharks 6 (K Mann try; D Holdsworth goal) at Remondis Stadium.
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