Round 22
Parramatta Eels 24 l. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 25

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

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

Seymour strikes 'Gold' in Sharks win
Mon August 13, 2007
Source: www.sharks.com.au

Sharks halfback Brett Seymour kicked a 35-metre field goal in the fifth minute of golden point extra time to steer his side to a thrilling 25-24 victory.

In a match which saw both sides squander chances to win the game in regulation time and in the over time period, it was a wobbly kick from the former Brisbane Bronco which prompted jubillant scenes on the Sharks bench and in high up in the stands in the coaching box.

After losing six games by two points of less during what has been a frustrating season, the win snapped a seven game losing streak.

While elated with the win, Sharks coach Ricky Stuart was also extremely disappointed in the performance of referee Jason Robinson, and fearing a fine for specific comments about his handling of the match, declined questions in the press conference immediately after the game.

The win and two competition points saw the Sharks climb to 18 points and clear of the bottom placed Penrith Panthers. They also leaped over St George, Newcastle and Canberra and moved to 12th position on table.

The match began with neither side able to assert any early dominance, however it would be the Eels, on the back of a dubious penalty awarded by referee Robinson, who would score first.

Camped in the Sharks defensive end of the field, the pressure proved a little too much to handle, with Eric Grothe on the end of a Brett Finch cut out pass to score wide out.

The Sharks would strike back when a perfectly planned set move saw Mitch Brown charge onto an inside ball from Greg Bird before running 20-metres to score. Luke Covell converted and after 16 minutes the scores were locked up at 6-apiece.

The Sharks went back on the attack through some enterprising play down the short side, with Ben Pomeroy, Bird, then hooker Isaac De Gois making good ground. However despite having two sets of six tackles on the Eels try line, the Sharks were unable to add to their points tally.

It was on the back of another penalty which saw the Eels piggy-backed down into Sharks territory once more and again they were able to covert pressure into points, with Timana Tahu brushing through a couple of would be tacklers to score close to the posts. Inu converted and it was the Eels up by six.

Again the Sharks would reply, this time it was a Seymour cross kick which was batted back by Covell who jumped above his opposite number Grothe, with Gallen off loading for Pomeroy to slide over wide out. Covell's coversion attempt was successful and the scores were tied and would stay that way going into half time.

After a 90-metre break by De Gois and David Simmons, the Sharks were hard on the attack but were denied a try after a forward pass ruling. A short time later a clever interchange of passing from Pomeroy, to Paul Gallen to Bird, resulted in a try to Covell, and the Sharks would go to the front at 16-12.

They went further ahead in the next set of six, when Seymour kicked for Simmons, with the Sharks winger beating Inu to the football before stepping past Jarrod Hayne to score under the uprights.

In a match were the fortunes fluctuated it was the Eels who responded, with Mark Ridell crashing over after some inspired play from Tahu. Inu converted and it was anyone's game again at 22-18.

A penalty goal by Covell took the margin out to six points, but after committing a couple of unforced errors, the Eels levelled the score when Ridell won the race to a Tim Smith grubber to dive over for his second try of the evening.

A frantic final 10-minutes followed with neither side able to secure the win in regulation and the match headed to the golden point period.

After Bird and Brown had missed field goal attempts for the Sharks, and Smith likewise for the Eels, it was Seymour who became the hero, his less-than-perfect 35-metre effort good enough to seal the win.

The Sharks had good players all over the park, none better than Seymour controlling the match at half back, Brown at fullback, who had his best game in the top grade, while Ben Ross was strong in the forwards. De Gois was a constant menace to the Eels from dummy half, while Pomeroy continues his rapid improvement in the centres, winning a clear points decision over his opposite number on the night.

The Sharks now return home for their next two matches, against the Wests Tigers and Gold Coast Titans. The Tigers clash is scheduled for a 5.30pm kickoff at Toyota Park.

SHARKS 25
Mitch Brown, Ben Pomeroy, Luke Covell, David Simmons tries, Luke Covell 4 goals, Brett Seymour field goal
defeated
EELS 24
Mark Ridell 2, Eric Grothe, Timana Tahu tries, Krisnan Inu 4 goals

Minute by minute scoring
12th min - Eric Grothe try, Krisnan Inu goal - Eels 6-0
15th min - Mitch Brown try, Luke Covell goal - 6-all
26th min - Timana Tahu try, Krisnan Inu goal - Eels 12-6
34th min - Ben Pomeroy try, Luke Covell goal - 12-all
HALF TIME
50 min - Luke Covell try - Sharks 16-12
52 min - David Simmons try, Luke Covell goal - Sharks 22-12
60 min - Mark Ridell try, Krisnan Inu goal - Sharks 22-18
66 min - Luke Covell goal - Sharks 24-18
70 min - Mark Ridell try, Krisnan Inu goal - 24-all
full time
85 min - Brett Seymour field goal - Sharks 25-24

Report source: www.sharks.com.au


Selmes added to Sharks injury list
Tue August 7, 2007
Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart has only made one change to the Sharks side for Saturday's clash against the Eels at Parramatta Stadium.

Jacob Selmes has been added to the Sharks ever increasing injury list sustaining a hamstring injury last night, which will keep him out for 1-2 weeks. Ben Ross moves from the Interchange into the front-row position and Fraser Anderson has been added to the bench.

The Sharks have lost their last seven matches to slide all the way down the table into 15th position and are now only two points ahead of Penrith at the bottom of the table. The positive for the Sharks is that their for and against is quite healthy and it means the Panthers will have to win two more games than Cronulla in the final four rounds to leap frog them on the table.

It hasn't been a case of the Sharks playing poorly and in the majority of those seven matches they've been in positions to win matches, but they've been unable to deliver the killer blow. Cronulla only lost by a point to competition leaders Melbourne last night and at one stage looked the likely winners of the clash.

Parramatta have been in terrific form of late defeating Brisbane and the Bulldogs in their last three matches and in between lost very narrowly to Manly in one of the best games of the season.

Parramatta Eels v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Parramatta Stadium
11th August
7:30pm

Sharks Team:

1 Mitch Brown
2 David Simmons
3 Ben Pomeroy
4 Reece Williams
5 Luke Covell
6 Adam Dykes
7 Brett Seymour
8 Ben Ross
9 Isaac De Gois
10 Craig Stapleton
11 Henry Perenara
12 Luke Douglas
13 Paul Gallen (c)

Subs:
14 Dayne Weston
15 Cameron Ciraldo
16 Fraser Anderson
17 Anthony Watts

Players Out:
Lance Thompson - knee - indefinite
Greg Bird - thumb - 3-4 weeks
Brett Kimmorley - knee - 5-6 weeks
Brett Kearney - quad - indefinite
Dustin Cooper - ankle - season
Jacob Selmes - hamstring - 1-2 weeks

Tue August 7, 2007
• Cayless returns for Eels
  

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