Match Report: NSW Women's Premiership Round 1 vs Sharks

A fast start from Cronulla put them out to a 10-0 lead after just 11 minutes, and despite a brave effort from Wests Tigers to stay in the fight, the Sharks proved too strong on the day.

Joy Levy opened the morning’s scoring, with the powerful centre bullocking her way to the line early, before veteran Nakia Davis-Welsh stormed over to extend the black, white and blue lead.

Wests Tigers hit back shortly after though, with Tiana-Lee Thorne crossing for the side’s first four-pointer of the season after 17 minutes.

The slick fullback produced a lovely show-and-go, stepping her way through the line to score.

The score remained 10-4 at half-time and Cronulla were first to post points in the second stanza, with Brooke Elliott planting the ball down beside the uprights to make it 16-4 to the Sharks.

Wests Tigers interchange hooker Patricia Raikadroka caught the Sharks defenders napping to score out of dummy half, however Roisin Crowe and Davis-Welsh went back-to-back for Cronulla, furthering their lead.

Despite being down by plenty, Wests Tigers produced a brave fightback, with Thorne showing express pace to race to the corner for her second.

With one minute remaining, a long cut-out ball from Sophie Curtain sent Rebecca Pollard over for a grandstand finish, however the Sharks held on to secure a 24-18 victory.