Falcons shrug off persistent Sharks

Karratha Falcons scored their first win of the season after a gruelling back and forth contest against Dampier Sharks at Windy Ridge Oval on Friday night.

Dampier were able to get off to a fast start, kicking the first goal of the game, while Falcons were wasteful early on, scoring three behinds before slotting a goal near the end of the term to hold a two-point lead at the first break.

The second term started in similar fashion with Sharks scoring the first goal of the term.

Falcons hit back at the Sharks with the next three goals before Sharks responded to cut the Falcons lead to just one point at the main break.

A resurgent Sharks came out after half-time with all guns blazing to retake the lead, kicking two goals to one in the third term to hold a slender eight-point advantage going into the final term.

With it all coming down to the final quarter, Falcons rose to the occasion with a two-goal burst in the opening minutes to snatch the lead back.

Falcons were able to shutdown the Sharks attack, allowing only one goal while kicking a further three to run away with the victory by 17 points. The final score was Karratha Falcons 10.8 (68) downing Dampier Sharks 7.9 (51).

Clifford Brough and Branden Smith stared for the Falcons with two goals apiece while James Rhodes and Reece Stewart had two goals each for the Sharks.

Karratha Falcons assistant coach Dean McDonald said the team had been working hard since COVID-19 restrictions eased.

“They’ve been working hard on focusing on the positive behaviours that drive a culture and we saw that with a win in the fourth quarter,” he said.

“To be able to run out the game really hard like that, it comes down to fitness which is what we’ve been working really hard on and the boys have responded well.”

Meanwhile, in the reserves Falcons soared above the Sharks to win by 60 points 16.4 (100) to 6.4 (40).