FIRED UP SHARKS TOO STRONG FOR GIANTS
Rockingham Sharks 30.Joondalup Giants 20
Rockingham survived a late comeback from the Joondalup Giants to record a 30-20 victory at Franklin Offshore Stadium on Saturday evening in what vice-captain Chris Siddons called one of the toughest games of the year.
With both teams playing for pride after disappointing seasons, there was very little between the two sides until the final seven minutes as the Sharks scored a try double to seal the points.
“It didn’t look like a game between two sides at the bottom of the table,” Joondalup coach Darren Smith said afterwards.
“Tough and with both sides committed, it was a battle.”
The Sharks jumped to an early 10-0 lead in the first half thanks to tries from hooker Jarrad Whitty and winger Kaiaua Scott, then the Giants staged their first comeback of the game.
Winger Lusio Vunibola found space down the left edge to score with three minutes left on the clock and skipper Gus Marshall levelled seconds before the siren.
It was the same halftime score for the Giants as last week in the round 13 encounter with Willagee, and the second half was to go the same way early as Sharks backrower and captain Ben Bolth broke through the middle on a powerful run to put the home side ahead again.
Minutes later winger Josh Bachelor crossed to regain that 10-point margin, but the Giants weren’t done yet, digging in and causing problems for the Rockingham defence.
With 12 minutes to go winger Isaiah Rapana found space on the edge to score and it was game on. Marshall kicked the extras and the Giants, with ball in hand, went in search of an equalising try.
They found it through their other winger Vunibola - from the kick-off. Four tackles into the set and they had crossed again.
With the game locked up and with six minutes remaining, both sides dropped the ball in the search for the winning try before Scott grabbed his second of the evening to edge the home side in front once again.
And with barely two minutes on the clock Whitty, who put in another outstanding performance controlling the ruck, dragged three players across the line to seal the win.
Rockingham coach Pete Worth had mixed feelings after the game, happy with the win, but cautious about how his side let the Giants back into the game.
“We had the chance to run away with the game and we let them back in,” Worth said.
“It was a good lesson for us to stay patient and close it out.
“Kaiaua Scott had a great game, scoring twice and coming in to carry the ball from the wing.
“And the usual suspects, Whitty and Siddons, were again awesome in effort and leadership.”
Siddons, as a forward, played the entire 80 minutes and Whitty organised around the ruck to eventually control the game - and score late on to win it.
The Giants missed the leadership of Taurean Sheehan and River Colman, but have some quality in their emerging youngsters that will stand them in good stead into 2026.
