Round 20
Brisbane Broncos 18 d. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12

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

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

Broncos defeat Sharks in hard fought battle
Sat July 26, 2008
Source: www.broncos.com.au

A full strength WOW Brisbane Broncos side have kick-started their push for a top four finish to the season with a hard fought 18-12 win against Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The Broncos produced one of their best performances in the last two months to beat the third placed Sharks in a bruising encounter.

"We had to be pretty tough ourselves out there tonight," said Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.

"We started to turn it around today," he said.

"We were much better in a lot of areas."

The second half began with a flurry of try saving tackles and bruising defence, with neither team able to change the Broncos lead of 8-nil at the break.

Sharks captain Paul Gallen then found himself on report for a high tackle which sent David Stagg from the field with a concussion.

The Broncos put the first points of the second half on the board when Sam Thaiday burrowed over the line in the 58th minute.

Michael Ennis kicked his third goal of the match to give the Broncos a 14-nil lead.

The Sharks registered their first points of the match in the 67th minute when fullback Brett Kearney dived full stretch, allowing Luke Covell to convert and make the score 14-6.

Cronulla almost scored just minutes later, but a diving effort from Karmichael Hunt stopped the away side from crossing under the posts.

Greg Eastwood sealed the game for the home side in the 73rd minute when he bagged a try of his own, stretching the Broncos lead to 18-6.

Sharks forward Grant Millington crossed for his first try of the season in the 77th minute, Covell successfully converting to bring the score back to 18-12, but it was too little too late for the away side.

Earlier, the Broncos registered the first points of the match thanks to a penalty goal from Ennis in the 6th minute.

Broncos winger Kaine Manihera went within inches of scoring in the 28th minute, but was held up well in goal.

The Broncos then scored the first try of the match in the 33rd minute when second rower Eastwood cross field chipped, allowing Denan Kemp (pictured) to score out wide.

Ennis added the extras from the sideline to give the home side an 8-nil advantage leading into the break.

BRISBANE BRONCOS 18 (S Thaiday, D Kemp, G Eastwood tries; M Ennis 3 goals) def CRONULLA SHARKS 12 (B Kearney, G Millington tries; L Covell 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.

Crowd: 27 905

Referee: Shayne Hayne

Report Source: www.broncos.com.au

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