MORUYA Sharks faced Narooma Red Devils in a local derby for round three of the Group 16 first grade competition on Saturday at the Bill Smyth Memorial Oval.
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In near perfect conditions for football, the teams took to the paddock with Moruya close to full strength for what was expected to be a tough affair.
The Sharks began well and took control from the beginning with dominant play in forwards which gave the backs some latitude.
Jake Clarke, relishing his role at five-eighth, was first to open the scoring when he skirted the defence and used his palm to break free for a four-pointer in the fourth minute.
He repeated the dose in the seventh minute and then the floodgates opened.
Narooma had no answer to the Sharks’ pack who were orchestrated well by Luke Jay at dummy half and Matt Jones at halfback.
The backline capitalised with a try to Caine Brierley before Tim Weyman burst through the Narooma defensive line to score adjacent to the posts.
At 22-nil, Narooma worked its way up the paddock and Moruya’s ill-discipline gave the home side three consecutive sets.
The Red Devils caught the defence napping and captain Clint Wright crossed the try line out wide.
The Sharks hit back quickly through Caine Brierley, Clarke and an 80-metre solo effort to Pat McMahon, and at half-time the visitors led 40-6.
The second half started similarly to the first with quick tries to Caine Brierley and Sam Howlett before the Devils salvaged some pride with a slick blind side move from a scrum, allowing Ryan Weymouth to score.
Moruya finished off the hapless Devils with further tries to Clarke, Caine Brierley, Dean Scott, Kyle Brierley, Howlett and Dennis Green completing the drubbing.
The final score of 80-10 was a reflection of how poorly Narooma defended rather than the class of Moruya.
Under coach Tim Weyman’s guidance, the Sharks are starting to develop a killer instinct which has been lacking in previous seasons.
“They are going on with the job rather than relaxing and letting the opposition into the contest,” Sharks’ secretary John Cornall said.
“A lot of this can be put down to the dominance of the forward pack.
“Tim Weyman is leading by example and Dillon Johnston, Shane Colebrook, Dean Scott are outstanding in their support.
“Aaron Brierley is starting to show some of his ball skills and the class of Sam Howlett and the intimidation factor of Kyle Brierley are creating an imposing pack.”
Cornall lauded Clarke’s switch to five-eighth, Jones’ kicking game at halfback and Jay’s play at hooker.
“Luke Jay at hooker is providing some great ball and when he runs from dummy half he is always dangerous,” he said.
“Jay’s rock-like defence is another feature of his game making him an integral part of the Sharks.”
The Sharks’ finishing has been a feature at the start of the season with Caine Brierley and McMahon tallying up tries.
Dennis Green was “safe as houses” at fullback and wingers Shaun Staples and Hayden Murray were “solid in everything they did”.
Coach Weyman was pleased with the victory but was not looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash next week against the unbeaten Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs.
In the club’s first match on the refurbished Ack Weyman Oval, the Sharks will host five matches next week in what should be their toughest test to date.
Moruya 80 (Tries; Caine Brierley 4, Jake Clarke 4, Sam Howlett 2, Pat McMahon, Tim Weyman, Dean Scott, Kyle Brierley and Dennis Green. Goals; Pat McMahon 8/11, Luke Jay 2/4) defeated Narooma Red Devils 10.
