Sharks snap streak over listless Knights

Cronulla have broken a 349 day streak of home losses, dominating Newcastle on the way to a 22-6 victory at Shark Park.

The Sharks had broken their egg on Easter with the impressive victory over the Roosters last weekend at Allianz stadium. Now they were looking to break the unwanted stat of ten straight losses at home.

In a move resembling a drought breaker, after a mostly clear day, the heavens opened up in the Shire half an hour before kick-off. It bore results early in the game, as the teams traded penalty goals in the opening fifteen minutes. Ill discipline from the Knights allowed Gordon to slot a second penalty on 22 minutes for the lead.

Sharks opened their shoulders after the early exchanges. Jack Bird was combining well with his forwards highlighted by Wade Graham and Anthony Tupou finding space. It was the backline who created the try, Bird starting the move and was on the end of the quick hands to get his third try in two weeks.

Once again, it was a young gun from the Sharks, young fullback Valentine Holmes swooped on an offload to sprint down the right, chipped the ball for Luke Lewis, who after injury is enjoying a resurgence himself, was right place, right time to jump and plant the ball down. Newcastle were forced to make 70 more tackles in the first half and it was showing.

Star signing Ben Barba, who was subject of debate whether he would get his spot back after the sterling performances of Bird and Holmes last week, was interjected into the game after half an hour. The former Bronco and Bulldog was energetic in his first few touches and almost stole a try after a strip, but it remained.12-2 at the break.

Barba got reward for his performance after the resumption. Jeff Robson piloted a kick towards Ricky Leutele's wing who caught it, passed it to an unmarked Barba who strolled in unmarked. The shackles had been freed from the home side, who were looking to run riot over the listless Knights, who went over 100 minutes without a try.

Newcastle worked their way back into the game, shading the possession statistics but were denied by resolute defense from the hungry Sharks. They prised an opening following a goal-line dropout, giving space for Akuila Uate to score his 100th try for Newcastle in the NRL. Roberts missed the conversion to leave them still stranded fourteen behind.

Cronulla put it beyond doubt though, just before the full-time whistle, Chris Heighington, was on the hip of Michael Ennis to take the short ball and crash over to start a long overdue 349 day party. Holmes added the extras to record a 22-6 victory over a error strewn Knights team, who are faltering after their impressive opening month.

Next week the Knights will host Parramatta on Sunday afternoon while the Sharks have a long lay-off til the following Monday when they host the Sharks back here at Remondis Stadium.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Jack Bird
2 points - Valentine Holmes
1 point - Ben Barba

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (22)
Tries: Jack Bird, Luke Lewis, Ben Barba, Chris Heighington
Conversions: Michael Gordon (0/2), Valentine Holmes (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (2/2)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (6)
Tries: Akuila Uate
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Tyrone Roberts (1/1)

Welcome to Shark Park, for tonight's contest. Cronulla, who were the last team to get off their duck egg right at Easter was fitting, taking on the previously undefeated Newcastle outfit, stinging from being held scoreless by the resurgent Dragons. Added to this, is the form of the Sharks at home, they are ten games without a win.. will it be eleven? Find out at 7:30pm.

TEAM CHANGES:

CRO: 1-17

NEW: Just a single change for the visitors. Sione Mata'utia comes onto the bench for Tyler Randell.

Here come the Knights onto Shark park, wearing their tradie orange jersey led out by Captain Gidley. They are followed by the home side who get a rousing cheer after their first win of 2015.

KICK-OFF! Here we go.

2: PENALTY Knights, offside on the second tackle.. poor. Although the Knights fail to find touch.

5: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Chris Houston makes an unforced error.
Sharks try to promote the football and it hit the ground, luckily for them it touched Chris Houston.

6: An impromptu counting lesson, as three Knights were caught offside.

7: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Sharks pointed straight to the sticks. Michael Gordon puts it through for the early lead.

12: PENALTY Knights, Andrew Fifita put a knight in a dangerous position.

12: Andrew Fifita ON REPORT.. and Knights also opt for two.

12: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Penalty goal attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Roberts does the same, as his goal kicking counterpart tying the game up.

14: 3-1 in PENALTIES to Knights. Now 4-1 with another penalty.

17: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
James McManus makes an unforced error.
Knights trying to force the pass again, McManus couldn't hold onto the pass.

18: PENALTY Sharks, once again got lucky. No one was at home at the play-the-ball and penalised Korbin Sims for just falling on it offside.

19: A good take from McManus, who lost control in coming back down and was caught in-goal.

21: PENALTY Sharks, Holmes was caught high in a similar play to last weekend's that created a try.

22: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Sharks once again point to the sticks, Gordon is 2/2.

25: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jack Bird. Kick to come.
Started from a Bird mazy run and he was in support, as it went down the left into his hands for the try.

26: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
A tougher assignment here for Gordon. On the left hand touchline, steps in and misses left.

28: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Luke Lewis. Kick to come.
That was some champagne football. Down the right this time from an offload sent Holmes away who stood up his man, chipped for Lewis who scored untouched.

28: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
From the right, misses.

31: SIX MORE from the entertaining Sharks.

32: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate makes an unforced error.
Uate stops another threat but the pressure is building on the Knights.

33: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jack Bird makes an unforced error.
Welcome to first grade son, Jack Bird is hammered by Leilua losing the ball.

34: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Wade Graham makes an unforced error.
They are opening the shoulders now, the home side. Tupou and Bird combine to try and send Graham away who spills it.

38: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Luke Lewis makes an unforced error.
Lewis was standing underneath the bomb again, this time knocking on though.

38: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Jack Stockwell makes an unforced error.
Whoops Jack! He tried throwing a pass but the slippery ball didn't co-operate.

39: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Ben Barba makes an unforced error.
STRIP by Barba, who then knocked it on.

39: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Joseph Leilua makes an unforced error.
Its been a terrible half for Newcastle, with another dropped ball in their own half.

39: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Andrew Fifita makes an unforced error.
Sharks toss it around then knock it on in the middle, through A.Fifita.

41: KICK-OFF! Here we go again..

43: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Joseph Leilua makes an unforced error.
Good hit from Beale there, dislodging it from Leilua.

46: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Ben Barba. Kick to come.
A nice cross-field kick from Robson, found Leutele who flicked it to an unmarked Barba, who strolled in.

48: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Valentine Holmes unsuccessful.
Holmes taking over the kicking from Gordon, who was changed after thirty minutes. Missed.

51: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Ben Barba makes an unforced error.
Barba tried to run onto the ball there, knocking it on.

52: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking if it a knock on, or not..

52: RED LIGHTS..NO TRY! It was forward but was called a knock on, to save blushes.

54: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Tyrone Roberts makes an unforced error.
Just not getting going for the Knights tonight.

57: Ennis ON REPORT.. PENALTY Knights.

58: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Akuila Uate makes an unforced error.
They tried to get Uate some space but a pass too low, was knocked on.

61: PENALTY Sharks, for Snowden running in.

66: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Joseph Leilua makes an unforced error.
Roberts sliced through, tries to get it to Leilua, who couldn't regather.

67: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jack Bird makes an unforced error.
Bird tries dancing around defenders, loses it.

68: Another set coming, Barba forces it dead.

69: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Akuila Uate. Kick to come.
Knights finally got themselves some space and sent Uate in.

70: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Roberts misses.

71: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kade Snowden makes an unforced error.
Just as they got back into it, they are back out.

72: Ennis tries to dart for the line, gets it stripped so it is a dropout.

73: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Chris Heighington. Kick to come.
Power move from the Sharks, finds Heighington who struggles over.

74: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
Holmes slams it through.

80: FULLTIME :: After 349 long days, Sharks win a home game.