Sharks rout Dogs by a ton

Rockingham Sharks coach Darren Shaw has a selection headache ahead of this weekend’s top-of-the-ladder clash with the Fremantle Roosters after his side thumped the Kalamunda Bulldogs 110-6 in the Smarter Than Smoking Premiership last Saturday afternoon.

Shaw made several changes to his side that beat South Perth, giving Reece Potter and Benny Pyako a rest and placing Ben Bolth and Geordie Connelly on the bench.

With Julian Wilson Wyllie and Matt Rangiui both unavailable because of work commitments, his revamped side came up with the goods in a one-sided encounter, leapfrogging the Lions to be sec-ond on the ladder behind the Roosters.

The Sharks were dominant throughout, scoring 19 tries and 14 conversions in the win, with the luckless Dogs scoring their only points midway through the second half after a knock-on from winger Connor Hudson.

“Yes, I’ve got a few selection headaches for next weekend,” a delighted Shaw said after the game.

“It was a very good performance and it shows the strength in depth we now have at the club.”

After the previous week’s arm wrestle with the Lions, this was one-way traffic as second-rower Ian Wood scored four, loose forward Anthony Bowman three, Josh Bransby and Caleb Reedy two each and Josh Neal, most valuable player Craig “Mad Dog” Madden, Pete Worth, Michael Heather, Steve Widders and Brandon Wright all crossed the try line.

The highlight was the debut of 17-year-old Tyler Hunt, son of club legend Brendan, who scored two tries and four conversions.

Wood opened the scoring in the fifth minute, with the ever-dangerous Bowman on the scoreboard minutes later.

Neal then crossed after clever play from dummy half before Reedy and Bransby increased the lead.

Bowman again and Wood, then Reedy, all piled on the pressure and Widders completed the first half scoring three minutes from the siren to see the Sharks into the sheds leading 48-0.

Wright was quick off the mark to increase the score two minutes into the second half and Bowman grabbed his third of the day with a barnstorming run through the middle six minutes later.

Kalamunda, to their credit, never gave up, but the Sharks were in another league, quickly piling on more points.

Bransby crossed before the Dogs scored after a high crossfield kick was knocked on by Hudson, but the setback was short-lived as Hunt made his presence felt on debut to break free of three tackles to open his senior account.

Wood then scored two impressive tries in the space of three minutes as the Sharks continued their romp, the second effort a 40m line break after some great build-up play.

Mike Heather found the whitewash and Hunt added a second, kicking his own conversion before Pete Worth, coming off the bench, found space to cross from 15m out.

Madden then rounded off a solid display to break through and prove unstoppable, dragging three players across the line with him as the Sharks went in search of the magic 100.

Reedy’s try on the siren finished the rout, with Hunt’s conversion ending a solid day at the office for the south coast club as they prepare for the battle royale against the Roosters at Franklin Offshore Sportsplex this weekend.

Earlier the women’s team beat the Bulldogs 50-0, the top-of-the-ladder third grade Val Murphy game went Ellenbrook’s way with a solid 24-10 eclipse of the Sharks, and the reserves went down 20-16, thanks to a last-minute try from the Willagee Bears.

In other NRL WA Premiership games, Fremantle beat South Perth 46-16 and North Beach defeated Joondalup 22-20.