Round 4
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 40 d. St.George-Illawarra Dragons 4

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Sharks dominate Dragons in local derby
Tue April 10, 2007
Source: www.sharks.com.au

In by far their best display under new coach Ricky Stuart, the Sharks have crushed their next door neighbours St George Illawarra to the tune of 40 point to 4.

The forwards dominated their opposites and the backs capitalised in the platform which had been laid, with the Sharks running in seven tries in a dominating performance which had Stuart, along with the Sharks fans in the 19,000-strong crowd smiling.

"Every team is fit and strong and physically pretty similar, so it comes down to attitude and effort and we were very good with that tonight," Stuart said. "They (St George) didn't play well and turned over a lot of ball, but we caused a lot of that. We didn't give them much chance to play well.

"But we're not getting carried away. We'll go back to work tomorrow and try to turn up and be competitive again next week."

Led by inspiring performances from Greg Bird in the forwards, with Brett Kimmorley calling the shots at half back and Brett Kearney creating plenty of havoc from the fullback position, the Sharks jumped out to a 16-4 half time advantage before going on to complete the job in the second 40-minutes.

The Sharks got off to the best possible start with Kimmorley sensing numbers out wide and chipping a perfectly weighted kick for David Simmons to gather the ball and put in down centimetres from the touch in goal line. Luke Covell missed the conversion from near touch but the Sharks had gained the early authority at 4-0 ahead.

The Dragons responded with an almost identical try of their own, with Ben Hornby grubber kicking behind the Sharks defence for Josh Morris to score. Wes Naiqama was also off target with his kick for the extra points and the scores were locked up at 4-all.

A couple of Dragons errors gifted the Sharks field position deep in their attacking end of the field and it was Bird asserting his authority down the left hand side. This time the talented back rower stepped through a tackle and turned the ball inside for Brett Kearney to touch down. Covell kicked truly and the Sharks were in front by six.

Only five minutes later the Sharks had extended their lead, this time through a strong charge by centre Ben Pomeroy, running onto a Kimmorley cut out pass. Covell's kick from near touch was perfectly struck and the Sharks went ahead by 16-4.

State of Origin forwards Paul Gallen and Ben Ross came into the game in the 26th minute and while the Sharks continued their dominance of the match they were unable to add to their advantage before the break with the sides going to half time with Cronulla up by 12-points.

A huge hit from Bird when he smashed Dragons fullback Brett Morris, jolting the ball loose, put the Sharks back on attack in the opening exchanges of the second half. Just a couple of plays later a back line movement resulted in Pomeroy crossing for his second four pointer of the night. Pomeroy had plenty of work to do when he collected the ball 25 metres out, but the strongly built centre brushed aside a number of opposition defenders before stretching out to plant the ball down. With Covell's kick at goal being successful, the Sharks had grabbed a 22-4 lead and were well in control of the contest.

The home side then extended their lead when a Kimmorley kick was botched by Ben Hornby, with Kearney Johnny-on-the-spot to put a finger tip on the ball for his second try of the evening.

It would get even better for the Sharks five eighth-turned fullback, with Kearney collecting a charged down kick before darting 30 metres through some flimsy Dragons defence to score his third try of the match. Covell again added the extras and the Sharks were putting the cleaners through their neighbours with the score blowing out to 34-4.

And still they had more points in the Sharks, with Fraser Anderson running a great line out wide to go over for the Sharks seventh try of the night. Covell converted from close range to put the final exclamation mark on an emphatic 40-4 win.

The Sharks had a number of outstanding performers on the night, with Bird, Kimmorley and Pomeroy among their best. Phil Leuluai repaid the faith shown by coach Stuart in promoting him to the starting side with a solid outing, while hookers Isaac De Gois and Kevin Kingston both proving a handful out of dummy half.

Another positive was the return of Gallen, who had some impressive touches and was punishing in defence, while the NRL debut in Sharks colours of former Bronco Brett Seymour at five eighth was also encouraging.

In the earlier match, the Sharks Premier League team broke their duck for 2007 in claiming a come-from-behind win over the Dragons. Behind by four points with less than five minutes on the clock, a try from Misi Taulapapa and the conversion from local product Mark Lennon saw the Sharks escape with an 18-14 victory.

After Cameron Ciraldo suffered a badly broken thumb in the first half of the Premier League match, it was a wholehearted performance by all concerned which eventually saw them home. Lock Henry Perenara was awarded man-of-the-match.

The Sharks next assignment will be against the Wests Tigers next Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown Stadium. That match is set down for a 3.00pm kick off.

Sharks 40
Brett Kearney 3, Ben Pomeroy 2, David Simmons, Fraser Anderson tries, Luke Covell 6 goals
Defeated the Dragons 4 (Josh Morris try)
Crowd - 19,137

Report source: www.sharks.com.au


Thrilling Local Derby Awaits Monday Night Football
Sun April 8, 2007
The clarity of rivalry - it is an innate phenomenon. It raises passions, makes us lose reason, and promotes competition. Above all though, it has the ability to inspire. Like all the great rivalries of modern sport, such a spectacle is what awaits at Toyota Park tomorrow night, as the Cronulla Sharks play host to St George-Illawarra Dragons in Round Four Monday Night Football.

Rivalries also have the potential to throw out the formbook, where a fledgling team can overcome their better-fancied opponents. This won't be a factor though, as both the Sharks and Dragons have endured similar campaigns so far in 2007. All that separates the two sides is a 12 point differential in favour of the Sharks. The winner tomorrow night could climb as high as fifth, whereas losing could potentially consign the team concerned to 14th spot.

At this point of the season, the result wouldn't affect the scheme of things too heavily for either side. However, both teams have come into 2007 with many tipsters unsure as to their credentials. St George-Illawarra have long been a glamour club awash with star billing, with yearly predictions of premiership grandeur firmly placed upon them. Yet this year has seen the Dragons drop off in bookmakers' eyes, with the departures of former club stalwarts Trent Barrett, Luke Bailey and Shaun Timmins. The Dragons' inability to fulfil their potential has been well-documented. Yet 2007 heralds a season without the mass expectation of yore, and the Dragons may yet benefit from the limelight being shifted elsewhere.

Retrospectively, Cronulla have endured the same period with the tag of cellar-dwellers. Since the departure of John Lang in 2001, the Sharks have struggled bar commendable 2002 and 2005 campaigns. The sacking of Stuart Raper has paved for Ricky Stuart's arrival, with the Sharks commending a credible squad at their disposal for the 2007 campaign. Yet the mediocre past continues to linger, and that will only change with time and concerted effort- something that was not afforded to either Raper or his predecessor Chris Anderson. The question of whether the Sharks will succeed is rivaled by the quandary of whether Ricky Stuart will be afforded the opportunity to help them succeed.

As for the game itself, both teams arrive in similar predicaments with a win apiece. The Dragons were woeful for 60 minutes against North Queensland before a late burst flirted hopes of a revival. Regardless, the Dragons will draw on the confidence of nearly pulling off a miracle, with the injury-maligned Mathew Head at the helm. And on a historic night for the Morris family, the twins Brett and Josh will team up together for the first time, becoming only the third set of twins to do so.

As for Cronulla, they have been inexplicable to analyse. Their forward pack appears to be one of the strongest in the league, with a healthy combination of both impact and endurance. The return of NSW backrower Paul Gallen will further strengthen the Sharks forward stocks. However, the problem lies in their backline, where points have come scarce. The Sharks appear to lack cohesion in their backline, failing to convert any of their territorial dominance into points.

On this note, the Dragons ought to emerge as winners. Yet this is a rivalry that has lasted for forty years. Predictions of a result are futile.

Meanwhile, A host of former Sharks and Dragons stars are sure to thrill what is set to be a bumper Monday night crowd when they take to the field on Saturday night for a game of Tag.

At this stage the likes of Andrew Ettingshausen, Mitch Healey, Jason Stevens and Barry Russell will turn out in Sharks colours, while for the Dragons Mark Coyne, Rod Wishart, Brad Mackay and Nathan Blacklock will represent the Dragons. There is also a chance Anthony Mundine will find time in his busy schedule to take part in the All-Stars match.

The Tag match between the Sharks and Dragons 'All-Stars' will preceded the NRL match between the Sharks and the Dragons, with the action getting underway at around 6.30pm.

Tue April 3, 2007
• Morris Twins to tackle Sharks
  

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