Round 4
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 16 l. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Sharks win Golden Point thriller over Dragons
Sat April 5, 2008
Source: www.sharks.com.au

A 40-metre penalty goal in the first minute of extra time by Sharks winger Luke Covell has piloted the Sharks to an exciting 18-16 victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium.

The penalty came as a result of Dragon Jason Ryles holding Brett Kearney down in a tackle following a half break up the middle of the ruck by the Sharks fullback, with Covell's kick coming after he had missed a sideline conversion to win the match in the last minute of regulation.

The Sharks forced the extra time with a spectacular try to Bryson Goodwin, from a Greg Bird grubber kick, the Sharks winger showing great skill to pick up the ball and plant it down centimetres in from the corner post.

While Sharks coach Ricky Stuart wasn't thrilled with the overall performance of his side, he was certainly pleased to escape with the two competition points.

"It was probably a little bit ugly, but I'd rather win that way than lose and be attractive," Stuart said. "We need to work on our attack. I've got to figure out how to best transfer the skill we show at training, into the games."

After a penalty goal piggy backed the Dragons up the field, it was the home team who would open the scoring. A one handed pass from Mark Gasnier gave Josh Morris just enough room to work in as he stretched out to touch down out wide.

Gasnier missed the difficult conversion however the Dragons would go ahead by 4-0.

The left hand side of the Sharks attack enjoyed a little bit if revenge for the second score of the night, with Ben Pomeroy pushing off Gasnier before breaking the line and then finding skipper Bird in support. Bird ran the final 10-metres to touch down for the Sharks first try of the night.

Covell converted from close range and the Sharks would lead 6-4. While the Sharks would have the better of the later stages of the half they were unable to add to their advantage and took the slim two point lead to the break.

The second half began with the Dragons levelling the scores through a Jamie Soward penalty goal after just three minutes of the second stanza had elapsed.

After a Covell error gifted the Dragons field position inside the Sharks end of the field, a benefit of doubt try gave them the lead when video referee Russel Smith awarded an extremely dubious try to reserve forward Langi Setu for St George to lead 10-6.

The next points would again come from the Sharks attacking the Dragons right side defence, with Pomeroy beating a tackle, then finding Covell who grubber kicked for Kearney, with the Sharks number one showing great determination to win the race to the ball for the Sharks second try.

Covell would kick truly from 20 metres out and 20 metres wide of the posts to put the Sharks back in front at 12-10 with 16 minutes left on the clock.

In a see-sawing battle it would be the Dragons who would recapture the lead, a fifth tackle raid down the blind side resulting in Ben Hornby going over under the sticks.

But displaying great resolve, the Sharks refused to give in, with the Bird-engineered try by Goodwin sending the game into overtime, with the Sharks prevailing in a tense finish.

Best for the Sharks on the night was Kearney, voted player's player by his teammates, while in the forwards, Fraser Anderson, Paul Stephenson and Luke Douglas toiled hard.

As well as being given the tick of approval for his performance by his peers, the Sharks coach was also full of praise for Kearney's effort on the night.

"Brett Kearney played very well for us," Stuart said. "We really missed him last year. He's got that little bit of x-factor in him."

The Sharks move to six competition points to sit level in first position. There next assignment sees them return to ANZ Stadium next Monday night to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Report source: www.sharks.com.au

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