A hat-trick to Lilly-Ann White and a second half try to Sheridan Gallagher ultimately wasn't enough for the nib Newcastle Knights, with the side downed 19-18 in a heartbreaking golden point defeat to the Sharks at PointsBet Stadium.
On a cool afternoon in Sydney, the Knights mostly controlled the contest for large periods, before the Sharks stormed home to take a one-point victory in front of a healthy contingent of fans in Cronulla.
How it played out:
The Knights set the tone early, dominating field position and capitalising through winger Lilly-Ann White, who crossed in the corner after just seven minutes.
White soon had her second, finishing a sweeping backline play to give Newcastle an 8-0 lead midway through the first half.
Lilly-Ann White 2nd Try
Cronulla hit back before the break when Georgia Ravics found space out wide, reducing the deficit to 8-4 at half-time.
The second stanza turned into a defensive grind, with both sides repelling multiple attacking raids. The breakthrough came with 15 minutes to play, when a towering Jesse Southwell bomb was spilled by the Sharks and cleaned up by Sheridan Gallagher, who dived over to extend the Knights advantage.
White's third try appeared to have Newcastle well on their way, with the Knights enjoying an 18-4 lead heading into the final stages of the game.
Two tries in four minutes to Ravics had the Sharks firmly back in the contest, before Brooke Anderson crossed with just seconds remaining to lock the scores at 18-all.
It took the Sharks just one set of six in Golden Point to seal the result, with Chantay Kiria-Ratu ensuring the Knights would not bring two points back up the M1.
What’s next:
The Knights return home in Round 10 for a crucial clash with the Gold Coast Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Tickets to that game can be purchased by clicking here.
