Sharks Book Historic KFS Grand Final Spot

The Belconnen United Sharks have defeated the West Belconnen Warriors 28 - 10, booking a spot in the Katrina Fanning Shield Grand Final. 

A twenty point to nil first half ensured that the Sharks will feature in the KFS Grand Final for the first time in their club's history. 

A penalty for an illegal strip in the opening set of the game, provided the Sharks with an early opportunity attacking in the Warriors half. 

It was an opportunity they took full advantage of as Kelly drifted across the field and dropped Leilani Raappana underneath who burned the fullback to score the opening try of the game. 

The ill-discipline from the Warriors continued to plague them in the opening fifteen minutes as they looked to promote the ball out of their own end, resulting in the Sharks earning another attacking set. 

This time it was the opposite centre Reece Paunovic causing the Warriors defence trouble, with a sharp left foot step, seeing her enter the backfield before drawing and passing the fullback to put Eliza Taylor over making the score 8-0. 

The fast start for the Sharks continued in the following set as superb pass from halfback Summer Luamanu putting Paunovic into space again, with the centre going alone to score Belconnen United's third. 

The game settled into a back-and-forth arm wrestle for the next ten minutes as the Warriors slowly worked their way back into the game. 

However, the speed of the Sharks plays the balls was catching West Belconnen's defensive line napping, with dummy half Halle Constable taking advantage of this crossing over from close range in the final five minutes of the first half, increasing their lead to 20 - 0. 

Despite trailing by more than three scores at the break, the Warriors started the better of the two sides, forcing a mistake out of the Sharks coming out of their own end. 

With this scrum proving fruitful for West Belconnen, with a shift to right edge placing Gabby Savage on the outside of her defender, with the centre having too much speed and scoring the minor premiers first of the afternoon. 

The Warriors ill-discipline continued with an error in the set after points, which put the Sharks back onto the attack with their captain Ella Kelly slicing straight through with a show and go, restoring their 20-point margin. 

Kelly's impressive second half continued, as she dug deep into the defensive line, attracting multiple defenders before supplying the pass for Ella Panagiotopoulos putting the result beyond doubt. 

Aaliyah Lomas crossed from close range for a try in the final minutes to reduce the deficit to 28 - 10. 

The West Belconnen Warriors will face the winner of the Rams vs Magpies next weekend in the preliminarily final, whilst the Belconnen United Sharks will await the winner in the Grand Final. 

Image by Trish Sullivan