Tallon Smith

The Shellharbour Sharks have bounced back from a period of uncharacteristic form with a 40-10 victory over the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs at Bill Andriske Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Centre Jayme McElhone starred for the Sharks, crossing for four of his side’s eight tries to set up a much needed 30-point victory.

Speaking to Battlers For Bush Footy this week, Sharks First Grade Coach Abed Atallah said that it was “good to get the win” after a few weeks of tough results despite strong efforts.

“Other than the Park game, where we were pretty ordinary that day and they were pretty good, we’ve been right in those other games, we lost by one point to Gerringong, and had a draw with Stingrays,” he said.

“It wasn’t a massive concern, it’s not like we were playing poorly, we just weren’t taking opportunities in games that we probably should have been.

“It was good just to get back to running hard and tackling hard on the weekend.”

Atallah was also happy to see his star centre McElhone in strong attacking form back on the field after a few weeks out with injury.

“It was his first game back after a few games off,” he said.

“He’s a pretty important piece of the puzzle, he got to get the rewards of some pretty good work that happened inside the middle of the field.”

The Sharks now turn their attention to another Grand Final rematch with Gerringong, this time on their home turf at Ron Costello Oval on Sunday, a test Atallah said the side is looking forward to heading into the finals.

“We enjoy playing against the top teams in the competition, we’ve had some real good battles over the years, us and Gerringong,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to that battle, we got pipped the last time, so we get an opportunity to play at home and change the result.

“Looking at the table, it’s a pretty big game.”

Meanwhile, in Saturday action, the Kiama Knights took out the local derby over the Lions with a hard-fought 16-2 win in tough conditions at Michael Cronin Oval.

Just two tries were scored on the day, one each to Kye Andrews and Sam Hooper, as the Knights held on to secure a valuable two points in a defensive grind.

A Jake Taylor penalty goal was the only time Gerringong troubled the scorers as they were held tryless for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, a week earlier in Round 15 proper, Stingrays held on to top position on the table with a strong 42-16 win over the Jamberoo Superoos at Cec Glenholmes Oval.

Playing at the Warilla venue after heavy rain caused Flinders Field to be closed, it was business as usual for the ‘Rays as they ran in nine tries to three, with Kye Deane and Liam Henry crossing for doubles in a win that could have been much bigger if not for some subpar goalkicking.

In the other game to go ahead in its original timeslot, the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles bounced back from their loss to Gerringong with an 18-12 win over a gallant Nowra-Bomaderry side.

In a hard-fought game in slippery conditions, three Eagles tries to Cooper Barnes, Zaan Weatherall and Brodie Breakspear to the Jets’ two saw the Eagles home.

Attention now turns to the four fixtures this weekend, with Berry-Shoalhaven Heads facing Nowra-Bomaderry, Jamberoo hosting Milton-Ulladulla, Kiama taking on Albion Park-Oak Flats, and the aforementioned showdown between the Sharks and Gerringong, with Stingrays having the bye.

Illawarra Rugby League

One of the all-time great mud games at Gibson Park saw the Thirroul Butchers overcome the Corrimal Cougars 16-14.

Players emerged from the swamp-like field covered head to toe in mud in scenes that belonged more to the 1960s than the 2020s.

The win sees the Butchers leapfrog the Cougars into fifth position on points differential, with one round to play before the new to five finals series begins.

Other results over the weekend saw Collegians get the better of Dapto in their top of the table showdown 22-14, while Wests found some form heading into the playoffs with a 34-16 win over De La Salle.

Statewide Scoreboard

Canberra

Tuggeranong 36 defeated Goulburn 22

Belconnen 28 defeated Yass 18

Queanbeyan 40 defeated West Belconnen 24

Woden Valley 24 defeated Queanbeyan Blues 20

Central Coast

Round Washed Out

Illawarra

Collegians 22 defeated Dapto 14

Wests 34 defeated De La Salle 6

Thirroul 16 defeated Corrimal 14

Newcastle

Maitland 24 defeated Souths 10

The Entrance 20 defeated Centrals 16

Kurri Kurri 32 defeated Macquarie 8

Cessnock 16 defeated Wyong 12

Northern Rivers

Casino 16 defeated Lower Clarence 12

Ballina 32 defeated Lismore Marist 10

Murwillumbah defeated Northern United by FORFEIT

Cudgen 40 defeated Tweed Coast 8

Mullumbimby 32 defeated Kyogle 18

Bilambil 20 defeated Tweed Heads 6

Byron Bay 14 defeated Evans Head 10

Group 2

Coffs Harbour 28 defeated South Grafton 20

Macksville 54 defeated Grafton 0

Woolgoolga 18 defeated Nambucca Heads 10

Group 3

Wingham 28 defeated Taree City 8

Port City 44 defeated Wauchope 24

Old Bar 18 defeated Port Macquarie 14

Macleay Valley 46 defeated Forster-Tuncurry 16

Group 4

Moree Boars defeated Wee Waa by FORFEIT

Gunnedah 36 defeated North Tamworth 24

Werris Creek 64 defeated Dungowan 4

Boggabri 60 defeated Kootingal 0

Group 7

Kiama 16 defeated Gerringong 2

Shellharbour 40 defeated Milton-Ulladulla 10

Group 9

Gundagai 32 defeated Albury 22

Wagga Kangaroos 24 defeated Temora 18

Cootamundra 44 defeated Wagga Brothers 4

Young 26 defeated South City 24

Tumut 30 defeated Junee 12

Peter McDonald Premierhip (Group 10/11)

Dubbo CYMS 58 defeated Nyngan 8

Orange CYMS 22 defeated Bathurst Panthers 20

Dubbo Macquarie 26 defeated Parkes 24

Forbes 48 defeated Wellington 32

Mudgee 14 defeated Lithgow 6

Orange Hawks 34 defeated Bathurst St Pats 16

Group 16

Tathra 60 defeated Cooma 0

Eden 34 defeated Moruya 10

Merimbula-Pambula 28 defeated Bombala 26

Bega 34 defeated Batemans Bay 4

Group 19

Elimination Final: Warialda 60 defeated Guyra 12

Qualifying Final: Tingha 42 defeated Uralla 12

Group 20

Darlington Point-Coleambally 32 defeated Griffith Waratahs 26

Hay 66 defeated West Wyalong 6

Leeton 52 defeated Tullibigeal-Lake Cargelligo 16

Yanco-Wamoon 28 defeated Yenda 22

Group 21

Greta-Branxton defeated Singleton by FORFEIT

Scone 22 defeated Aberdeen 8

Muswellbrook 34 defeated Denman 20

George Tooke Shield

Crookwell 31 defeated Snowy River 0

Harden 40 defeated Googong 8

North Canberra 20 defeated UC Stars 18

Bungendore 30 defeated Boorowa 22

Castlereagh League

Qualifying Final: Narromine 34 defeated Coonabarabran 22

Elimination Final: Gulgong 32 defeated Coonamble 22

Woodbridge Cup

Elimination Final: Molong 26 defeated Trundle 18

Elimination Final: Orange United 34 defeated Peak Hill 10

Qualifying Final: Manidra 20 defeated Cowra 16

Qualifying Final: Oberon 47 defeated Canowindra 10