Golden Sharks take shine off Gold Coast

A casually-taken Valentine Holmes field goal in extra time has delivered the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks a 23-22 victory over the Gold Coast Titans tonight at Cbus Super Stadium in front of just over 10,000 fans.

Neither side was able to put a meaningful foot forward in the opening 20 minutes, the Titans eventually pushing through on the 25-minute mark through Ryan James. The lumbering forward's try and Aidan Sezer's subsequent conversion put the hosts in front 6-0, a lead they would extend to 12-0 after David Mead picked up a controversial try seven minutes later. Mead had run 80 metres after a contentious pass deflected off a Shark and potentially a Titan, but the men upstairs allowed the try to stand.

The Titans extended the lead to fourteen with a penalty goal shortly before the break, although Cronulla kept their noses in the contest with a late try to Valentine Holmes in the shadows of halftime.

Penalty goals continued to be the modus operandi for the Titans into the second half, adding a further two points in the 46th minute. The decision appeared to backfire, with the Sharks cutting the lead to six just a few minutes later when Luke Lewis crashed over the line. That didn't deter the home side who again opted for a Sezer two-pointer to capitalise on poor Sharks discipline in the 55th minute, putting the Titans up 18-10 approaching the final quarter of the match.

The swinging momentum continued, with Valentine Holmes bagging a double on the hour mark, and Michael Gordon's conversion reducing the deficit to just two. The Titans then held strong for ten minutes, but seemed to start faltering when Nate Myles was taken from the field with a possible concussion.

Cronulla eventually struck with nine minutes remaining, Jack Bird stumbling over the line after sustained pressure from the visiting side, together with Gordon's conversion putting themselves in front by four. It wouldn't last though - the Sharks lost the ball and the Titans through Anthony Don took full advantage to level the scores. Sezer's conversion attempt went wide and nobody was able to attempt a field goal in the remaining five minutes, meaning for the second time at NRL level this afternoon, Golden Point extra time was required.

Two sets into golden point the Sharks managed to work their way to 30m out, and Holmes was placed perfectly beside the ruck to slot home the match-winner, helping the Sharks erase the demons of last Saturday's nailbiting loss to the Warriors.

Next week both sides get a chance to relax with the bye. In Round 12 the Titans are back at home to host reigning premiers South Sydney, while the Sharks have a daunting trip to Kogarah booked for Sunday footy against the Dragons.

Match Details

Gold Coast Titans 22 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 23
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium
Crowd: 10466
Halftime Score: Gold Coast Titans 14 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 4

GOLD COAST TITANS (22)
Tries: Ryan James, David Mead, Anthony Don
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Aidan Sezer (3/3)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (23)
Tries: Valentine Holmes (2), Luke Lewis, Jack Bird
Field Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/1)
Conversions: Michael Gordon (3/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Valentine Holmes
2 points - Kane Elgey
1 point - Luke Lewis

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Destruction for the hosts, heartbreak for the visitors last week. Both these sides need a victory for different reasons. Not a lot of fans in at Cbus Super Stadium today. Cronulla are about to take to the field in their black alternate strip, while the Titans will wear their usual aqua blue strip.

As for team news, both sides have left their starting thirteen untouched. On the benches, the Titans have dropped Mark Ioane out in favour of Ben Ridge, while the Sharks have opted for Tim Robinson in place of Tinarau Arona.

We are underway at Cbus Super Stadium! Titans will take the first hit-up.

2: Ben Barba grubbers, but Josh Hoffman has it covered for the Titans.

4: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
James Roberts makes an unforced error.
Big bust up the middle by Dave Taylor, but the next play James Roberts spills a Kane Elgey pass.

7: Barba is getting some medical attention, a mouth full of blood after coming down with a Aidan Sezer bomb.

9: A break from the Sharks off a disjointed last-tackle Titans kick and Ayshford & Barba are able to link up and get the Sharks to halfway. Then for some unbeknown reason, Ennis kicks on tackle two. Titans with it on their own line.

13: Jayson Bukuya goes within inches of scoring, then the Sharks pick up a penalty on the next play.

16: An error from the Sharks lets the Titans off the hook and they progress up the field.

17: Penalty against the Titans, Ryan James has taken Ben Barba out before he caught a Sezer bomb.

22: Attack not coming together for the Titans. Simple errors costing them.

23: Some fisticuffs leading into a scrum. Myles and Fifita pulling each other's shirts after a ball throwing incident by Ennis. Titans penalty, they'll attack again.

24: Another penalty for the Titans....

25: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Ryan James. Kick to come.
Big Ryan James crashes over and the pressure on the Sharks finally shows.

26: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Great conversion and the Titans lead by six.

28: Titans on the attack again after trapping Valentine Holmes in goal.

29: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
David Mead makes an unforced error.
Mead spills a last-tackle bomb. Sharks handover.

31: Good effort from Cronulla to get up the other end and put a high one up which ultimately forces a drop-out.

31: VIDEO REF | possible Titans TRY to David Mead. He's run a long way, we're checking for a knock on.

32: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by David Mead. Kick to come.
It's gone up a try and you can't conclusively overturn the original decision. Mead's run 85m to score and extend the Titans' lead!

33: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
From near the sideline... like an arrow. Brilliant.

36: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Cronulla concede a penalty right beside the posts 10m out. Sezer converts the penalty easily.

39: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.
Redemption for Cronulla, some clever lead-up play from Jack Bird and Barba before Beale puts Holmes over in the corner!

40: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
Superb effort from the sideline from Gordon.

40: Halftime and it's all Gold Coast, save for the Holmes try just on halftime. The officiating has been confusing at times but the Titans are clearly the better outfit so far.

43: Great start to the second half for the Titans, they force a drop-out from Barba on the third set.

44: Another drop-out forced. All the Titans early on here.

46: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Despite the pressure mounting, the Titans opt for two when they get a penalty in front. Sezer nails it.

49: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Luke Lewis. Kick to come.
Luke Lewis crashes over for the black, white and blue! Game on!

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
And just like that, the Sharks are back in the contest!

55: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL GOLD COAST TITANS
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Three penalty goals now, and why not? Easy two again for Sezer.

56: Straight off the penalty goal restart, the Titans get another penalty. Poor discipline from the visitors.

57: Drop-out forced again by the Titans. Cronulla with it all do.

59: VIDEO REF | possible TRY for Cronulla. Valentine Holmes looks to have capitalised on a Titans mistake.

59: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.
Too easy. Anthony Don spills his lollies cleaning up a regulation kick and an onside Valentine Holmes takes the spoils.

60: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Just two in it now! Gordon converts!

61: Titans kickoff out on the full. Oh dear... Sharks penalty from halfway.

63: VIDEO REFEREE possible Sharks NO TRY. Ayshford's claiming a four pointer after another spilled kick on the last by the Titans.

63: Should be green lights, an overturning here in our opinion... but it's NO TRY. Scrum Sharks for a Titans knock on.

64: Sweeping backline move almost pays off for the Sharks, but the hand of Dave Taylor puts it into touch. They'll get a fresh set again from a scrum here.

65: Titans out of gaol. Roberts takes a high ball on the last and it's a 20m restart.

66: Momentum back with the Titans now. Poor attacking options and kicking from the Sharks inviting the hosts back into this.

67: Myles off after a head knock, he'll be tested for concussion. Now we have Luke Lewis steaming away downfield after a chargedown. He's brought to ground 40m out.

68: Ayshford goes up for an aerial contest and doesn't come down with it. Titans handover 10m out.

70: Penalty Sharks. 35m out they go on the attack.

71: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jack Bird. Kick to come.
The Sharks earn a repeat set after a Jack Bird kick deflects, but one tackle later they don't need it, Bird has climbed over the line!

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Well here we are... Sharks now in front by four! Gordon converts the Jack Bird try!

73: Cronulla really don't like holding a lead late in a contest. Titans have it back shortly after the kickoff from an error...

74: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Anthony Don. Kick to come.
And they go back to the left second tackle, Don has space and hits back immediately. Scores level!

75: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Sezer's conversion attempt fades away across the face.

78: End to end stuff as we enter "field-goal time" here.

78: A double knock on, 40m from the Titans line. Titans feed though, so still a chance for the home side to work it into some sort of position...

79: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Ryan James makes an unforced error.
Ryan James spills it! There goes that chance!

80: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Gerard Beale makes an unforced error.
Gerard Beale spills it after finding a yawning gap. We're off to extra time again!

80: Here we go... who'll win the field-goal shootout? Second tense finish for Sharks fans in two rounds. How's the heart, Shire folk?

80: Underway in Extra Time. Titans with it after the referee had to explain to Luke Douglas what to do after he won the toss...

82: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Field goal attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
VALENTINE HOLMES NAILS THE DROP GOAL! SHARKS WIN!