The West Wales Sharks may still be winless in 2008 but it took an enormous effort from a big physical Newport Titans team to secure the points for the away team in a thriller at Furnace RFC.

The two teams traded tries from beginning to end with the game hanging in the balance until the last few minutes.  On his return from injury, Mark Cooke got the Sharks off to the start they were looking for with the first try and Jonathon Griffiths picked up the first of his six conversions.

Newport responded immediately as Ross Bridgemont charged over followed on the next set by Josh Davidson.  Alan Pope responded for the Sharks before Joe Burke picked up the first of his brace for

the Titans.  Scott Bessant converted all three for the Titans.

Mark Cooke opened up a gap on the Titans with a seventy metre sprint to score under the sticks bringing the score to 24-18 at the half.

The second half continued in the same vein with the Sharks scores coming with a second from Pope and Griffiths along with seventeen year old Rowan Jenkins.  In the end the Titans proved to be too strong with tries from Martin Colley, Tyrone Mahoney, Ross Palmer a second from Burke and a pair from Scott Bessant to go with another three conversions and a drop goal.

article by Mark Harris
28 June 2008