THE first grade Bega Roosters had their undefeated streak come crashing to an end at the hands of the Moruya Sharks on Sunday.
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The club will be taking the positives of winning three from four matches, but the loss is a harsh blow to the Roosters’ dominance.
The under 18s, league-tag and reserves were all able to secure wins over the Sharks.
The first grade Roosters were defeated by Moruya 30-16.
The main event first grade clash went awry for the home side very early.
Bega’s fifth tackle kick on the opening set rebounded off the Sharks’ front line and was regathered by Joel Pietsch, who ran 50 metres solo to open the scoring.
Meanwhile, the front row was a showing of brute force from the Moruya Sharks.
Captain Tim Weyman and Aaron Brierley led the forward pack on crushing runs up the middle.
However, Bega’s pace and fitness provided some responses to the Moruya attack.
James Bower-Scott, Scott and Lee Fuller, Ryan Apps and Blake Robinson all made good metres ducking and weaving through the Sharks’ line.
The game degenerated to a power struggle, with both sides struggling to complete their sets and coughing up penalties.
The Sharks scored again through a heaving run by Justin Bell and things looked doubtful for Bega.
However, the Roosters were getting the better of Moruya on the wings.
Lee and Marty Scott-Thomas were able to make some incisive runs.
It was the same clever footwork that saw Lee cross for Bega’s first try.
Scoring out wide, the conversion missed the mark and the Roosters were down 12-4.
Bega had a second chance when a kick was grabbed in the fingertips of the Moruya winger who took the ball in to touch.
The mistake saw Bega regain the ball within Moruya’s 20 and Scott Fuller made sure of the efforts, diving between three defenders just wide of the posts.
In the second half, momentum favoured the visitors as the Sharks ran away with the game.
Cain Brierley added two tries, while Bell completed a hat-trick.
Scott Ingram crossed for the Roosters, but the Bega squad was left trailing by the full time siren.
Meanwhile, the other three grades went Bega’s way, with the reserves posting a second half comeback to secure their win.
Bega reserve grade defeated Moruya 30-22.
The reserves saw both teams going try-for-try throughout the entire match.
However, a missed conversion saw Bega down 22-20 with eight minutes to play.
An exceptional run down the right hand attack saw the Roosters cross to get back in front.
Then, a last ditch effort by the Sharks backfired as the kick went out on the full, returning possession to the Roosters.
Bega punished the mistake, crossing under the posts to shore up their score and take the game 30-22.
The league-tag was largely dominated by the Bega Chicks to win 32-0.
Regular try-scorers Joccoaa Rogers and Tegan Mundy again led the count for the Bega squad.
Georgina Pearce also made an impact, while Kelsea Tarlinton, Hayley Jessop and Taelar Williams all had strong runs.
The under 18s shared try-scoring duties around to overcome the Sharks 28-16.
Declan and James Bower-Scott, Marty Scott-Thomas and Cody Hazelgrove-Danvers all featured heavily with a try to their names.
Meanwhile, James left no doubt on the scoreboard sending four conversions between the posts.