Deja-vu for Canterbury as late penalty costs Belmore Bulldogs

In front of 19,005 supporters at Belmore Oval, an incident reminiscent of Good Friday has given the Sharks an 18-16 win over the Bulldogs.

With the Sharks setting up for a field-goal with five minutes remaining, a Josh Reynolds high tackle resulted in Cronulla being awarded a penalty from right in front of the posts.

With Valentine Holmes adding the extras, the Sharks came away from Belmore Sports Ground with a deserved win despite a late charge from Canterbury.

In a game riddled with errors, the Sharks struck first through Michael Gordon (13th minute) who backed up a break from Wade Graham to score only his second try of 2015.

Moments later the Bulldogs returned fire with Josh Morris (18th minute) awarded a try following video confirmation, with Trent Hodkinson unable to add the extras the score remained 6-4 for the remainder of the half.

In a woeful start to the second half, both sides traded errors before Paul Gallen (50th minute) broke the game over by crashing over from close range to give the away side a 12-4 lead.

Ten minutes later the Sharks appeared to seal the game with Michael Ennis delivering a fantastic cross-field kick for Valentine Holmes who scored his 12th try of the season.

Needing to strike back, the Bulldogs struck back through Frank Pritchard (65th minute) who supported Trent Hodkinson to bring the home side to within six points.

Soon after the most controversial moment of the match occurred as Josh Reynolds was penalised for high contact on Valentine Holmes.

Despite the setback, the Bulldogs kept the dying minutes of the match interesting, with Michael Lichaa (77th minute) diving over against his former club to set up a grandstand finish.

Ultimately the Bulldogs fell short as the Sharks recorded a memorable victory to cement a place in top eight.

While Josh Reynolds will likely face a nervous wait at the judiciary, the Bulldogs five-eighth may be spending time on the sidelines regardless, following a shoulder injury picked up early in the match.

For the Sharks, Luke Lewis came off the field with a knee injury late in the match, while Paul Gallen should be fine to travel to New Zealand next weekend despite being placed on-report for an alleged crusher tackle.

Next week the Bulldogs travel to Allianz Stadium on Friday night to tackle one of the NRL heavyweights in the Roosters, while the Sharks will go across the ditch on Saturday to take on the Warriors at 3pm.

Match Details

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground
Crowd: 19005
Halftime Score: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (16)
Tries: Josh Morris, Frank Pritchard, Michael Lichaa
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (2/3)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (18)
Tries: Michael Gordon, Paul Gallen, Valentine Holmes
Conversions: Michael Gordon (1/1), Valentine Holmes (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Michael Ennis
2 points - Paul Gallen
1 point - Frank Pritchard

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 20 Sunday Afternoon Football from Belmore Sports Ground between Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Cronulla Sharks.

Canterbury will be without Aiden Tolman and Moses Mbye. David Klemmer will start in the front row; Tim Browne and Lloyd Perrett come onto the bench.

Cronulla have one change with Matt Prior coming onto the bench in place of David Fifita. Despite allegations of junior league abuse, Andrew Fifita will take his place in the front row.

Plenty of players coming up against their former clubs today: Michael Ennis and Ben Barba for the Sharks, Michael Lichaa for the Bulldogs.

Cronulla onto the field, led out by Paul Gallen.

The Bulldogs come onto Belmore Sports Ground to the sound of rapturous applause.

Graham takes the first hit-up of the day.

Hodkinson bombs, but Valentine Holmes is able to clean up 20 out from his own line.

2: Phenomenal Bulldogs defence forces the Sharks over the sideline.

3: Michael Gordon knocks the ball dead, but the Sharks get a penalty for offside against Trent Hodkinson.

4: Josh Reynolds looks to have picked up a shoulder injury. He's staying on, but he may turn into a passenger if the Sharks target him.

5: Fifita knocks on trying to play the ball close to the Bulldogs tryline.

5: Andrew Fifita gives away a penalty.

6: Brett Morris looks to have picked up an injury after being hit late by Andrew Fifita.

6: Penalty to Canterbury - Fifita has had an appalling start to this game.

7: Josh Morris cut down short of the tryline.

7: The Bulldogs force a linedrop out, but Josh Reynolds has come off. Big blow for Canterbury.

10: Michael Ennis draws a penalty for Cronulla after the Bulldogs allowed the line dropout to go into touch.

10: Cronulla pass the ball into touch; erratic start from both sides.

12: Ennis reintroduces himself to Trent Hodkinson with a shot on the halfback.

13: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Michael Gordon. Kick to come.
After Wade Graham was put into space, the second rower links with his fullback to open the scoring.

15: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
From right in front, Gordon converts his own try.

15: From the kickoff, the Sharks make a mistake inviting the Bulldogs inside their own half.

16: Shaun Lane is claiming a try, but it looks as though the youngster has made a double movement.

16: No Try. Penalty for a double movement.

17: Penalty to Canterbury for one of the worst play the balls you will ever see against Andrew Fifita.

18: Josh Morris claiming a try, after diving over in the left corner.

18: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Morris. Kick to come.
Canterbury fans celebrate as Josh Morris is awarded a try.

19: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
No good from Hodkinson. Sharks 6-4.

20: Reynolds back on for Canterbury.

21: Sosaia Feki is claiming a try from a Wade Graham kick, but he looks to have lost control.

21: No Try. 20 Metre restart.

21: Forward pass by Michael Lichaa provides the Sharks with a good chance to attack.

23: Knock on from the Bulldogs close to the line after a grubber kick from Michael Ennis.

24: Another penalty to the Sharks.

25: Graham kicks for Sosaia Feki, but Brett Morris runs it dead.

27: Bulldogs hold off the Sharks and draw a penalty.

28: Kasiano on for the Bulldogs.

29: Reynolds throws the ball over the sideline. Opportunity gone begging for the Bulldogs.

31: Michael Ennis draws a penalty after Tim Browne holds on in the tackle.

31: Ben Barba gets a rousing reception from the Canterbury supporters replacing Michael Gordon.

32: Ben Barba passes the ball into touch to the cheers of the Bulldogs fans.

33: Canterbury knock on following a charge down. Cronulla will start a set just short of halfway.

34: Chris Heighington loses the ball 20 out from the Bulldogs line.

36: Ben Barba taken in a tackle after Canterbury spread the ball.

37: Gallen pops a pass to Ben Barba, but the Bulldogs tackle their former teammate.

38: Cronulla will get another set around 10 metres out from the Bulldogs line.

39: Cronulla end up over the sideline.

40: Siren sounds as Josh Jackson is taken on halfway.

40: Huge stakes for both clubs heading into the final 40 minutes: Bulldogs need a win with a tough road ahead; Sharks wanting to solidify a place in the top 8.

40: Matt Prior takes the first run of the second half.

40: Lewis loses the ball inside his own half following a poor pass from Jack Bird.

41: Canterbury with a huge chance to take the lead.

41: Josh Morris down clutching his neck. Possible crusher tackle, but it appears as though Paul Gallen has hit him high.

41: Lichaa elects to ignore the chance to level the scores and taps.

41: Amazing effort from the Sharks to hold up Frank Pritchard, it looks as though he has lost the ball but Josh Reynolds may have scored.

41: No try. Obstruction against the Bulldogs.

42: Poor end to the Sharks set, tackled well out from the line.

43: Canterbury make another error inside their half.

44: Penalty to Cronulla.

45: Matt Prior loses the ball right in front of the uprights.This game is a bludger!

47: If Fifita's play-the-ball in the first half was terrible, then Sam Perrett's effort just there wasn't much better.

47: Surprise, Surprise. We have another error followed by a penalty.

48: Gerard Sutton threatens to send players to the sin bin.

49: Ben Barba earns a scrum following a last tackle grubber kick.

50: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Paul Gallen. Kick to come.
It's taken a while, but Paul Gallen crashes over to score adjacent to the posts.

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
Holmes puts the Sharks outside a converted try lead.

53: Cronulla belt the ball out on the full. Shocking end to the set from Wade Graham.

53: Forward pass from Josh Morris to his brother in a try-scoring situation.

56: Bulldogs get a repeat set, but Reynolds passes to Barba.

57: Lloyd Perrett on for Canterbury.

59: Ennis kicks for Valentine Holmes who looks to have scored.

59: Video referee checking the grounding. Original refs call was Try.

59: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.
Cronulla with a 12 point break now. It's all coming up for the Sharkies today.

59: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Valentine Holmes unsuccessful.
From the sideline, Holmes pushes the kick to the left.

61: Tagaetese loses the ball near halfway.

63: Having seen this performance from Canterbury, Moses Mbye is all but assured of a place in the side next Friday.

63: 25 errors so far tonight. For teams looking to play finals football those stats are atrocious.

65: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Frank Pritchard. Kick to come.
The Bulldogs hit back to breathe life back into the match.

65: Following the try, David Klemmer looked to take on the entire Sharks pack in the in-goal.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
It's a six point game now.

66: The Bulldogs are full of energy now.

67: Sharks survive a length of the field raid, but a tackle later they lose the ball.

67: Luke Lewis down clutching at a knee.

67: Lewis being assisted off the field.

67: Lewis is staying on the field. Remarkable recovery from the impressive forward.

69: The Sharks put the ball out on the full.

69: Finally Lewis has succumbed and is heading up the tunnel to receive medical assistance.

70: Feki manages to stay in the field by a whisker.

70: Gallen loses the ball; Bulldogs on the attack.

71: Brett Morris has crossed for a try, but the referee has ruled No Try, alleging Frank Pritchard obstructed Jack Bird.

71: No Try.

71: Sharks (if they can complete a set), will have a chance to post a field goal at the end of the set.

71: Gallen down with a shoulder injury.

71: Sharks setting up for a field goal.

72: Holmes kick goes wide. Reynolds has hit the player late.

73: We're going to have a repeat occurrence of the infamous Good Friday incident.

74: James Graham is lividly restrained.

74: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
From right in front, Holmes takes the Sharks out by 8.

74: Josh Reynolds on report for a high shot on Holmes.

75: Bulldogs will have a seven tackle set after Graham's kick goes dead.

76: Brett Morris looks to finds some space but loses the ball.

76: 14-16 errors so far.

76: Ennis chips for Feki, but Morris is able to clean up.

77: Bulldogs make a break.

77: Lichaa is claiming a try. If it's awarded the Bulldogs are still a chance.

77: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Michael Lichaa. Kick to come.
Game still on. The try is given.

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
The halfback wastes no time to get the home side within 2.

78: Brett Morris knocks on trying to latch onto a Shaun Lane offload.

80: Against his former club, Michael Ennis runs the ball into touch to give the Sharks the win.