Broncos end losing streak as Cronulla's woes continue

Cold greasy conditions at Toyota Stadium tonight did not seem to bother the Brisbane Broncos as they got their season back on track with a 34-16 win over a hot and cold Cronulla Sharks.

The Broncos dominated field position early through some highly committed defence and some strong hitups from their forwards.

However Cronulla drew first blood scoring in the 14th minute after Chad Townsend put in a nice little grubber for Jason Bukuya to give the Sharks a 4 point lead and Nathan Stapleton failed to add the extras.

The Broncos hit back quickly, scoring through Dale Copley in the 18th minute and a successful sideline conversion from Corey Parker gave his team the lead.

The Broncos were over again 10 minutes later after second rower Alex Glenn received a good pass from Peter Wallace.

Glenn scored his double only four minutes out from half time after grounding the ball within millimetres of the dead ball line, to extend the Broncos lead.

But the Sharks scored the last points of the half, catching the Broncos defence napping in the last minute of the first forty with John Mannah muscling over. Chad Townsend added the extras to reduce the Broncos lead to six heading into half-time.

Both teams started the second half strongly but the Broncos were the only ones able to yield results, scoring through Corey Parker in the 53rd minute who had no trouble converting his own try.

The Sharks proved to be their own worst enemies as their halves continued to find the Broncos' backs on the fly and gift the Broncos good field position. 

The Broncos were over again in the 59th minute after taking advantage of numbers out wide and scoring through Jack Reed. 

Darren Lockyer's side continued to dominate for the rest of the half, out-muscling the Sharks who continued to butcher opportunities.

The Broncos were finally over again in the 68th minute through centre Gerard Beale after a clever cross-field kick from McCullough, but Corey Parker failed to add the extras to keep the score at 34-10.

But the game was not over yet. The Sharks won a scrum ten metres out from the Broncos' line and Colin Best was able to scoot over as Sam Thaiday crashed into referee Matt Cecchin leaving a gap in the Broncos' defence. The conversion attempt by Chad Townsend was successful to make the final score 34-16.

Match Details
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 16 were defeated by Brisbane Broncos 34
National Rugby League - Round 13 - Friday June 3, 2011 7:30pm
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Matt Cecchin and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and Luke Potter
Crowd: 14,436
Halftime: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 10 Brisbane Broncos 16

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Alex Glenn (2 Tries)
2 Points - Ben Hannant
1 Point - Paul Gallen

CRONULLA SUTHERLAND SHARKS (16)
Tries: Colin Best, Johnny Mannah, Jason Bukuya
Conversions: Nathan Stapleton (0/1), Chad Townsend (2/2)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (34)
Tries: Corey Parker, Alex Glenn (2), Gerard Beale, Dale Copley, Jack Reed
Conversions: Corey Parker (4/6)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Evening NRL fans and welcome to Toyata Park for the clash between the Sixth placed Brisbane Broncos and the Cronulla Sharks who are ranked equal last coming into this round.
There have been several late changes to the Sharks line up with Gardner, Townsend, Stapleton, Douglas, and Collis coming in for Gordon, Mills, Porter, Vave, and Wright.
The Broncos are unchanged.
Luke Douglas defies medical science and will play his 134th consecutive match tonight despite being ruled out until Round 18 earlier this week.
Brisbane will kick off tonight defending from the northern end. Just waiting on the referees to blow time on.
1 min: Cronulla make 40 metres in their first set before Graham kicks the ball down field.
3 min: Broncos finish their first set 12 metres into opposition territory with Lockyer putting up a bomb which Gardner does well to diffuse 5 metres from the try line.
5 min: Penalty against the Sharks to give the Broncos some good field position. Let's see what they can do.
6 min: Yow Yeh fumbles the ball over the Try line after McCullogh puts in a neat little grubber on the last tackle.
9 min: Hannant loses the ball forward while hitting the ball up for the Broncos and the Sharks will get a set just inside the Broncos half.
10 min: Townsend puts up an average kick on the last tackle and Sharks waste their first opportunity at the Broncos tryline.
10 min: Townsend puts up an average kick on the last tackle and Sharks waste their first opportunity at the Broncos tryline.
12 min: A penalty against Broncos after Hannant holds Gallen down on tackle 5.
14 min: TRY
Townsend puts in a neat little grubber on the last and Reed spills it and Bukaya pounces on the ball to score the opening try of the match for Cronulla. Stapleton misses the conversion. Cronulla 4-0
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 4-0
17 min: Gallen tries to offload the ball and spills it a few metres from halfway on the last. Broncos will get a crack at the Sharks line.
18 min: TRY
Reed throws a marginal pass to Copley and the winger is over for the Broncos. The sideline conversion attempt by Corey Parker is successful. Broncos lead Cronulla 6-4
Brisbane Broncos 6-4
21 min: Corey Parker spills the ball 30 metres out from his own try line and the Sharks will go on the attack.
22 min: Broncos are off the hook after a nothing kick from Graham.
25 min: Josh Hoffman makes a 20 metre kick return and the Sharks only just manage to shut him down 20 metres out from halfway.
26 min: A nice kick by Lockyer and a committed kick chase from his team mates forces a line drop out and the Broncos will go on the attack.
27 min: Broncos force another drop out after a nice grubber kick from dummy half from McCullough.
28 min: A penalty against the Sharks and the Broncos get another 6.
28 min: TRY
A simple try by Alex Glenn after Wallace engages the defence and throws a neat little pass to send the second rower over. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker is successful. Broncos 12 Sharks 4.
Brisbane Broncos 18-4
31 min: Broncos give away a penalty to give Sharks an opportunity to hit back.
33 min: Townsend puts in a grubber on the last but Glenn is up to the test.
34 min: Thaiday puts in a little chip kick which goes straight down Gardner's throat who makes a 30 metre kick return before being tackled on halfway.
34 min: Cronulla run it on the last before Gallen puts in a little chip kick which roles dead.
35 min: Waiting on a video ref decision for a possible Broncos try. Wallace puts in a kick from 40 metres out from the Sharks line, Gardner does his best to will it over but Glenn may have just got it before it went over.
36 min: TRY
Tim Mander gives the Broncos the benefit of the doubt and gives Glenn the green light. Got to have some empathy for Gardner though, the ball was in by millimetres. Conversion by Corey Parker unsuccessful. Broncos 16 Sharks 4.
Brisbane Broncos 16-4
39 min: Sharks get a repeat set 38 metres from the Broncos' try line.
39 min: A possible try to Mannah for the Sharks. Waiting on a video ref decision.
40 min: TRY
A simple try to John Mannah who muscles his way just over the try line after some good service from dummy half from John Morris. Conversion attempt by Chad Townsend successful. Cronulla 10 Brisbane 16
Brisbane Broncos 16-10
That's the half folks in a very entertaining forty minutes. The Broncos appear to have the upper hand at the moment despite being caught napping in the final minutes of the half. They have dominated field possession and always looked threatening when on the attack while the Sharks' halves have been exposed for their lack of creativity.
40 min: The Sharks kick off and the second half is under way.
43 min: Copley fumbles the ball and the Sharks go on the attack in the Broncos half.
45 min: A poorly weighted grubber kick from Townsend goes dead and the Broncos are off the hook.
47 min: The Sharks are penalised for being inside the ten and the Broncos are given a piggy back out of their half.
48 min: McCullough drops the ball from dummy half on the third and the Sharks are now off the hook.
49 min: Another kick goes straight down the throat of Yow Yeh. The Cronulla halves are really lacking creativity tonight.
53 min: TRY
A nice try to the Broncos after Thaiday throws a neat inside pass to Corey Parker to sprints a few metres to score the try. Conversion by Corey Parker is successful. Broncos 22 Sharks 10
Brisbane Broncos 22-10
56 min: Another kick by Wade Graham goes down straight down the throat of a Broncos' back. Exactly what the Sharks don't need.
59 min: TRY
The Broncos take advantage of numbers out wide and spread it and Reed crashes over for a nicely executed Broncos try. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker is successful. Broncos 28 Sharks 10.
Brisbane Broncos 28-10
63 min: Sharks are penalised in front of their own posts for playing the ball of the mark.
64 min: PENALTY GOAL
Broncos decide to take the penalty kick to extend their 18 point lead to 20. Broncos 30 Sharks 10.
Brisbane Broncos 30-10
67 min: Wade Graham makes a neat little break but has nobody in support. He throws a long pass only for his team mate Best to kick it forward and give possession to the Broncos.
68 min: Cronulla absolutely butcher a try scoring opportunity as Collis spills a poor pass when the Sharks looked certain to score.
70 min: The Broncos kick chase is as impressive as it was in the opening minutes.
70 min: Best makes a nice break down the field and the Sharks are on the attack.
71 min: Gardner is tackled without the ball to give the Sharks a crack at the Broncos' line.
71 min: The Sharks spill the ball again.
74 min: Colin Best is penalised for a strip and the Broncos are on the attack again.
65 min: Wallace puts a little too much weight on his grubber kick and it rolls dead.
76 min: Gardner spills the ball to give Broncos the ball just within their own half.
79 min: TRY
A nice cross field kick from McCullough out of dummy half is fumbled for the Sharks and Reed picks up the ball and passes it to Beale who forces his way over. Conversion attempt from Corey Parker is unsuccessful. Broncos 34 Sharks 10
Brisbane Broncos 34-10
80 min: TRY
Sam Thaiday crashes into the ref and is impeded from making a tackle and Colin Best Scoots over. Conversion attempt by Chad Townsend is successful and that's the game. Broncos 34 Sharks 16.
Brisbane Broncos 34-16