Round 7
Sharks 24 d. Cowboys 22

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Dykes inspires Sharks to end Cowboys winning run
Tue April 25, 2006
Cronulla have been the first side to defeat North Queensland this year with an excellent second half display to come from 22-10 down to win 24-22. The Sharks have struggled this season with their only win before Saturday being a two-point victory over wooden spoon favourites South Sydney.

Even though the Sharks were without captain Brett Kimmorley there were plenty of tipsters and punters prepared to back this match as being the first one North Queensland would lose after a great opening six rounds for the Townsville based club.

Luke O'Donnell got North Queensland off to a good start when he scored in the 3rd minute with Johnathan Thurston converting. However, the Sharks responded with tries to Phil Bailey in the 10th minute and Lance Thompson six minutes later to lead 10-6 with Luke Covell adding the extras for Thompson's try.

Matt Sing leveled the scores in the 19th minute when he scored another try as he edges his way closer to Andrew Ettingshausen, Terry Lamb and Steve Menzies on the all-time list but Thurston was unable to convert, which would have given North Queensland the lead.

Two tries in the final seven minutes of the first half to Rod Jensen and a second to O'Donnell pushed the Cowboys clear at 22-10 and it looked like they would power on with the job in the second half.

The Sharks came out a different side in the second half and inspired by stand-in captain Adam Dykes who also shifted to halfback in Kimmorley's absence. Dykes got Cronulla back into the match in the 53rd minute with a try, which Covell converted to bring the Sharks within a converted try. Dykes then created a try for centre Nigel Vagana in the 59th minute and Covell again added the extras to level the scores.

Covell broke the deadline with a penalty goal in the 65th minute and the Sharks held on strong with the Cowboys unable to produce the heroics of the week before against Newcastle where they were unable to win the match from no where.

The Sharks have been competitive in most of their matches this season but haven't been able to win them. They should have defeated Brisbane and Manly in Rounds 2 and 3 and last week led the Benji-less Wests Tigers during the first half only to be slaughtered.

Cronulla coach Stuart Raper after the game said, "I know it's a cliché but you can definitely build your season around a close win like this against a quality opponent. I was very proud of the way we played. The boys showed a lot of self belief to come back in that second half."

Dykes said, "We have two great dummy halves in Kevin Kingston and Tevita Latu. I thought they carved them up. Them going forward and getting quick play the ball helped my kicking game by giving me extra time."

North Queensland will be disappointed to finally lose a match but they have enjoyed a great start to the season and are still the front runners for the title.

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