Round 24
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20 d. Sydney Roosters 0

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

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

Sharks Secure Home Final
Sat August 23, 2008
Source: www.sharks.com.au

In a dominating performance the Sharks have given the best indication so far this season that they can be a force come semi final time with a 20-0 victory over the Sydney Roosters.

Showing determination in defence, combined with a sprinkling of smart attacking play when the situation allowed, the Sharks built on an early lead and never let the Roosters back into the contest.

While the win cemented a top four berth and a home semi in week one of the finals series, it was also the sort of step forward coach Ricky Stuart was looking for just three weeks out from the semi finals.

"We've come off a couple of ordinary performances, managed to win one of those, but this was certainly an improvement," Stuart said. "I would say it's the best defensive effort I've been involved with in the time I've been at the club."

Keeping the Roosters scoreless obviously gave Stuart and his players plenty to be pleased about, however the three smart tries scored by the Sharks also provided cause for optimism with the big games just around the corner.

"We scored 20 points, three tries, so I don't think our attack is as bad as the critics might be making out. And more importantly we kept them to nil."

The match began with plenty of feeling, with two melees breaking out, the first after Paul Gallen and David Shillington locked horns, the second following a cheap shot on Greg Bird from Rooster Braith Anasta.

When the teams finally decided to play some football it was the Sharks who gained the early advantage, with Fraser Anderson, shifted out into the centres for this clash in a reshuffle forced upon the Sharks due to the injury to Brett Kearney, pushing off Sia Soliola to score wide out.

Covell missed from near touch with his conversion attempt but after eight minutes the Sharks were ahead 4-0.

Encouraged by their positive start the Sharks continued to throw the ball around and marched back down into the Roosters defensive zone. On the sixth tackle it was a Brett Seymour cross kick, plucked out of the air by Covell, which resulted in the Sharks second try of the night.

Again Covell was wide with his attempt at the extra two points but the Sharks had established a handy break on their opponents at 8-0 in front.

Neither team was able to trouble the scoreboard attendant in the final 20 minutes of the first half as the Sharks took their eight-point lead to the break.

The Roosters came out of half time with plenty of enthusiasm but the Sharks were able to match them in the early exchanges. It took 16 minutes of the second period for the score to alter and it was the Sharks who added to their lead, Covell batting back a towering bomb from Brett Kimmorley for Gallen to regather and scamper over untouched.

This time Covell was on target with his kick and the Sharks had gone ahead by 14-0.

Two penalty goals by Covell put the Sharks three converted tries in front at 18-0, before Mark O'Meley was sin binned for dissent in the 73rd minute, Covell again kicking the goal, cementing the two competition points and the home semi final they were chasing.

While the Sharks had a number of outstanding performers on the night, none were better that Covell on the wing and Isaac De Gois at hooker.

Covell defused many a Roosters kick and was used successfully as an attacking weapon for Sharks kickers Kimmorley and Seymour, while De Gois was strong in defence and a constant menace with the ball in his hands in attack.

With a try and four goals, for 12 points on the night, Covell consolidated his place at the top of the NRL's point scorers list. Covell is also the Sharks leading try scorer on the year with 13.

Kimmorley's kicking game kept the Roosters continually on the back foot and skipper Gallen was once again an inspirational leader.

The Sharks move to 34 competition points, four clear of the Roosters who are in outright fourth. The Brisbane Broncos, winners over the Gold Coast Titans tonight, are fifth on 29.

The next assignment for the Sharks is a Friday night clash with the Wests Tigers in a game to be at Leichhardt Oval.

Report Source: www.sharks.com.au

Advanced Search