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| Sharks Toppled In Season Opener. | ||||
| The Dargaville Ford Western Sharks were toppled 30 - 18 by Hora Hora in their opening match of the premier club rugby season. | ||||
| Played in very warm conditions last Saturday at Hora Hora park, the Sharks fielding a new look line up this year, and with the advantage of a Northerly wind, struck first through a well taken penalty goal by Tane Takulua for a 3- 0 lead after 10 minutes. Stung by this, the experanced Hora hora side gradually gained the upper hand, capatilised on this advantage and a few problems in the Sharks defensive lines, to post three trys and a penatly to take an 18 to 6 (another Takalua penalty) lead at halftime. | ||||
| Another try quickly after the break had the home side out to a comfortable lead before the Sharks lifted their game, to take charge of proceedings in the last quarter, putting Hora Hora under pressure and gaining tries to Solomone Palu, and Tane Takalua with a commendable comeback. | ||||
| In the Sharks pack, who deserve all the credit of their second half effort, Solomone Palu was in outstanding form with surging runs & crunching tackles, fellow loosie Mark Russell, hooker Craig Williamson, lock Peter Bond, who did extra well in the lineouts and around the field & big lock Sione Schaaf did a ton of work in the tight also deserve mention. | ||||
| Powerful centre Tama Herman, was excellent value in the sharks backline, with Tana Lutui showing tons of ability, second five Siosifa Mafi having a good outing , as did Jeremy Hutchinson and Tony Stokes. | ||||
| The generally young Sharks team will have learnt that they need to bring the increased tempo they achieved the last quarter for the whole eighty minutes in future games. | ||||
| The Western sharks are at home to Kamo at R.D.1 park on Saturday. | ||||