PORT Macquarie Sharks took a while to warm to the task, but in the end they proved far too good for Forster-Tuncurry on Sunday.
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The Sharks ran in seven tries on the way to a 40-4 victory which coach Joey Cudmore admitted was a difficult one to watch.
“We didn’t play too good, but to put 40 on them is a positive,” he said.
“We never learnt from our mistakes, we saw our mate take a hit up and knock on, but then tried the same thing so we’ve got to learn from our mistakes a bit quicker.”
After Wingham suffered a surprise 34-28 loss to Macleay Valley Mustangs, the Sharks have again closed to within a win of top position.
Cudmore knows they need to be better.
“When we play more of the serious teams we wouldn't have gotten away with that so we’re fortunate to get away with a good win,” he said.
In Cudmore’s absence due to a torn eardrum, Mitch Wilbow and James Kelly performed admirably.
Wilbow crossed for a try while Kelly scored a double.
“Mitchy Wilbow did his job off the bench and has given me food for thought so we might have a few positional changes moving forward,” Cudmore said.
He was also pleased with the performance of fullback Jake Green who switched from halfback to fullback.
“Jakey was good and did the little things that no one saw. His talk was good.”
Conditions throughout the match weren’t conducive to attacking rugby league. Light rain started to fall just before kick-off which made for slippery conditions.
Completion rates from both sides in the opening 20 minutes was almost non-existent as they struggled with the conditions.
The Sharks were camped in their own half for most of the first half, but the first attacking piece of play came in the 21st minute.
Five-eighth Corey Murphy sliced through the Forster defence near halfway and raced 30 metres up field.
His offload to Mitch Smith was put down as the Sharks started to get a foothold in the match.
James Kelly finally opened the scoring in the 25th minute after sustained pressure from the home side.
Fullback Jake Green’s grubber in behind the defence was knocked on and the Sharks made the Hawks pay from the ensuing set of six.
Five minutes later the Sharks were in again through interchange utility Mitch Wilbow.
But it was second-rower Matt Shipway who laid the platform after he burst through the Hawks defence.
Hawks centre James Handford crossed in the corner for the visitors in the shadows of half-time to close the gap to 12-4 at the break.
