The Sharks accounted for the Kendall Blues 37-18 on Saturday, but the scoreline is not a true reflection of the battle that took place at Wauchope’s Lank Bain Complex.

The intense arm-wrestle was locked at14-all after 60 minutes before the Sharks over-powered the Blues.

Macquarie captain George Jones said his side were feeling a little underdone.

“It was frustrating early, it just seemed anything that could go wrong did,” Jones said.

“We were behind the posts at 10-0 down and I just said to the guys that the tide would turn our way. And it did.”

The Sharks had only played one game in the last five weeks and lacked match fitness.

But they worked their way into the game, proving the week off as minor premiers was a benefit.

Five-eighth Mitch Walker was outstanding for the Sharks and came into his own in the last 20 minutes, bamboozling the Blues’ defence and setting up a flurry of points at the death.

The Blues came out full of confidence and put the on 10 unanswered points early as the Sharks struggled to keep the ball in hand.

The Sharks responded with a solid middle period in the first half and put 14 points on to lead 14-10 at halftime. That was without Jones who spent the last 10 minutes of the half in the sin bin.

Kendall’s Eddie Campbell scored an unconverted try after the break tie it up 14-all.

The game then entered a territorial see-saw but neither team was able to put any points on the board for 20 minutes.

The Sharks then exploded. Walker hit overdrive and the Blues were left in Macquarie’s wake.

The Port Macquarie team scored 23 unanswered points in the last quarter of the game to give them another week off to prepare for the grand final.

The Blues will have to lick their wounds and get ready for a sudden death clash with Long Flat.

Macquarie Hotel 37 (Steve Bowes, Dion Glassie, Josh Jones, Mitch Walker, Nic Knox, Nigel Stoneham and Grant Arndell tries; Mitch Walker 3 goals, field goal, Nic Know 1 goal) d Kendall Blues 18 (Eddie Campbell, Keiren Roberts, Dave Robinson and Shaun Kennedy tries; Nic Christenson goal)

Long Flat Dragons 54 (Shaun Christie 3, Shane Frankin 2, Jason Morrison 2, Garry Moorman, Wayne Morrison, and Jason Costigan tries; Shane Franklin 7 goals) d Comboyne Tigers 10 (Troy Bell and Wayne Hinslewood tries; Troy Bell goal)