Sharks to feature Youth Match As Curtain Raiser to their local derby with Philadelphia Fight

The New Jersey Sharks will take on the Philadelphia Fight in a Franklin Conference match up at Shark Park(Falls Township Park in Levittown, PA) this Thursday night to determine who will hold top spot in the division in the early stages of the season.

Both the Sharks and the Fight are coming off cross conference losses to the Knights and Bulls respectively, so the match will be a typically physical encounter between the local rivals.

A feature of the evening will be the curtain raiser involving students from the Manor Elementary School in the Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, PA at 5pm.

USA Tomahawks international Sal Ranniello has been heading up the program which offers flag rugby league after school for kids in 2nd to 5th grade, ranging in age from 7 to 11. Currently 45 kids have signed up, which is a great indication of the interest developing in many areas. Along with the after school program Sal also taught rugby in his PE classes for grades 3-5. All 400 plus kids at the school were exposed to rugby league and were shown a magic moments highlight video that peaked interest tremendously. Along with Sharks team mate Fred Backhaus, the New Jersey club is leading the way with junior development, with both being school teachers it has been a real opportunity to develop a grassroots program in area schools.

During July Sal will be running a youth Rugby League camp. It will be offered to kids ranging in age from 7-8, 9-10 and 11-13. It is a weeklong camp setup for two hours a day. The camp will be at at Manor Elementary School in the Pennsbury School District. More information on the camps to come.

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