Courageous Cronulla halt rudderless Roosters

Cronulla have shutout the Roosters in the second half to earn a determined 18-4 victory in front of 14,459 fans at Toyota Park.

The Sharks came prepared for a game in unfamiliar conditions of daylight football, they rolled over the Roosters in the early exchanges. This set the platform for their first try, with Gallen motoring past several defenders to score.

They doubled their lead in the 26th minute, when Ben Pomeroy leaped above the pack to slam the ball down in the corner. Porter had wobbly boot on, missing both conversions in the first half.

Roosters would cut the deficit to four just before the break, thanks to an outstretched Kane Linnett who stepped his way over but left the field after touching down. Anasta would miss the conversion and give us a score of 8-4 going into oranges.

The second half began much like the first, with Cronulla rolling over the Roosters forwards, despite losing their starting hooker Paul Aiton to ankle problems.

It didn't phase them, as they put it high again to the debutant, Stewart Mills who touched down in his first NRL game. Porter missed to give the Roosters a sniff.

Todd Carney would direct several attacking raids at the Sharks line, with repeat sets and six again plenty. Cronulla would stay resolute and repel each raid to extinguish the comeback from Sydney and guarentee a valuable two points just before Origin.

Pomeroy would force his way over for his second try to add salt to the wounds of the demoralized Roosters who have only two wins from nine games thus far this year. Matthew Wright took kicking duties off the erratic Porter and converted for an end scoreline of 18-4.

Match Details
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 18 defeated Sydney Roosters 4
National Rugby League - Round 10 - Sunday May 15, 2011 3:00pm
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne and Gavin Morris
Video Referee: Steve Clark
Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy and David Munro
Crowd: 14,459
Halftime: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 8 Sydney Roosters 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Paul Gallen (1 Try)
2 Points - Kade Snowden
1 Point - Stewart Mills (1 Try)

Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (18)
Tries: Paul Gallen, Ben Pomeroy (2), Stewart Mills
Conversions: Matthew Wright (1/1), Scott Porter (0/3)

Sydney Roosters (4)
Tries: Kane Linnett
Conversions: Braith Anasta (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to Shark Park for Sunday afternoon football, yes you read that right, Sunday arvo at Cronulla. In bigger news, there is no rain around or forecasted for this afternoon. Should make for some entertaining football between Cronulla and Sydney.
A boilover earlier in the Toyota Cup, Cronulla shooting out to an early twelve point lead before being run down by a gallant Roosters outfit, for the latter to win 28-19.
Roosters welcome back golden boy Todd Carney while Cronulla racked with injury, have given a debut to NYC winger Stewart Mills.
CHANGES:

Cronulla: Tim Smith is out, replaced by Scott Porter. Jeremy Smith is out with injury, replaced by Bukuya, with Tautai and Vave coming onto the bench. B.Wright drops off.

Sydney: Mitchell Aubusson is out, Symonds will start. Arona will take his spot on the bench.
Roosters are out on the field, lead out by Braith Anasta. Paul Gallen follows, maybe he'll be the NSW captain in a few hours. Roosters kick off.
1 min: Here we go! Anasta gets boot to ball.
1 min: Not even a minute and we have our first penalty.
3 min: Roosters have survived the first onslaught on their line, Minichiello diving on the ball.
3 min: Much like Cronulla, Sydney will get easy passage from their own line. Thanks to a high tackle by Luke Douglas.
5 min: Stewart Mills is through on debut, he's got white line fever but he gets wrapped up by Todd Carney on return. Cronulla kick it alive on last but are finally stopped dead. Changeover.
Tom Symonds might have first points this afternoon, checking if it was knocked on and a push in the back.
9 min: NO TRY - Minichiello has been judged to have pushed one of the Cronulla chasers in the back. Penalty Cronulla.
11 min: Pearce and Carney are peppering the Sharks wingers with bombs but this time it's covered well.
14 min: TRY
First points to Cronulla! Paul Gallen burst through the Roosters defense to start the roll, on last Graham puts it high to Pomeroy who plants it down. Porter shanks the kick to the right.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 4-0
16 min: It's all Cronulla here, they are making metres at will and putting together some passes. The last pass goes astray for Best, a reprieve for the Roosters.
18 min: He's not a horse, so i'm not sure why Masoe was trying to ride the Sharks player there. It was an automatic penalty and Cronulla go back on the attack.
19 min: Porter launches it across the field again, Mills leaps high and spills it out the back for Douglas but he knocks it on.
22 min: Finally, some adventure from the Roosters, a quick shift to Leilua who is rounded up. Another bomb is collected with ease and penalty conceded by Sydney.
26 min: TRY
Cronulla run a play down the blindside to Tupou who pops one back to Gordon is taken. On last, they opt for the blindside again and Gallen is too strong, too powerful and scores! He takes it closer to the posts for Porter who will have an easier conversion. It doesn't help as Porter misses this one too.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 8-0
28 min: Some enterprise from the Roosters ends with Carney being crunched by Gordon. Kenny-Dowall can't get a kick away on last and Masoe compounds the error with ANOTHER penalty!
30 min: A beautiful cut-out pass for Pomeroy from Porter but he can't offload to Mills and it's a changeover.
31 min: Todd Carney seems to be the only Rooster trying, he almost pokes his nose through but is slammed to the ground again. Roosters try to poke through again but go to old faithful cross-field bomb and changeover.
33 min: Roosters try to flood the left with support runners for Carney but he's caught with the ball and drops it.
35 min: Sharks try the power play on last, with Gallen but he's caught on last.
36 min: Tasi with a good offload for Kenny-Dowall who positions Leilua for a run down the sideline, he tries to get it back to Minichiello but it's knocked on.
38 min: A nice pass to Linnett who gets it to Naughton who offloads to Arona who goes close but earns them a penalty.
40 min: TRY
Roosters go back to the left side, giving Linnett some clean ball. He steps and stretches out to score but he's looking the worst for wear afterwards. If you are a young kid, looking to add goal-kicking to your skillset, don't watch this afternoon, Anasta makes it 0/3 for all kickers.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 8-4
During halftime, if you have a Twitter account. Firstly follow us @LeagueUnlimited but also discuss the game with your fellow league fans, by using the hashtags. For this game, it is #NRLcrosyd.
We're back for the second half. An interesting stat tells us that the Sharks have lost three times when they have led.
41 min: Here we go, for the second stanza. Lasi takes the first hit-up.
42 min: Oh dear, Paul Aiton is in some trouble, he collapsed after playing the ball. He had to be carried off, so it's a lower leg injury. Stuart Flanaghan will replace him.
45 min: It's high bombs a go-go here this afternoon. Stewart Mills loses the ball in the sun and it lands for Tasi who offloads to Friend who spills it. He's penalised for a petulant kick of the ball.
Stewart Mills might have a try on DEBUT! Checking the grounding.
49 min: TRY
Vave almost scurries through but can't get off his knees. Next tackle, Porter launches one to Mills who leaps high and slams the ball down to double the Sharks lead. Porter with his third attempt, can he get one? No he can't.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 12-4
51 min: Douglas charges full pelt at the defense but he's taken heavily and drops the ball.
53 min: Roosters are putting on a few plays at the Sharks line but a knock on by Cronulla, will give Sydney a double dip.
55 min: Roosters are piling on the pressure here, with penalties, restarts but it all comes to naught when a pass to Naughton is forward.
59 min: Promising play by the Roosters, sadly dies again. Kenny-Dowall can't hold onto the offload as the Sharkies chant rings around Toyota Park.
60 min: Sharks try to play some ad-lib football but an offload hits the deck. A sight no NSW fan wants to see, Paul Gallen down hurt but gets up.
63 min: You never buy a Todd Carney dummy but the Sharks held firm, not buying and took him out just!
65 min: A let off there for the Roosters, they spilt it but get a penalty for offside.
Mitchell Pearce might have a try, checking if it's stripped or lost.
66 min: NO TRY! It was stripped by Gordon but it'll be another set of six for the Roosters.
67 min: Good defense by the Sharks, they have stopped Carney every time he's ran the ball. They knocked it down on last, so more pressure for the Roosters.
69 min: Stand and applaud Cronulla fans, four sets of six and they defended them all.
70 min: Unfortunately due to all that tackling, Cronulla are out on their feet. They have spilt it.
71 min: Somehow Cronulla dig deep again and defend the whole set, they should hold this lead from here.
73 min: Roosters shift it, Symonds is away and only has Gordon to beat but he's equal to the task. He takes Symonds over the sideline..NO TRY!
74 min: Wade Graham is through! He almost gets there but is held. Porter launches it to the debutant Mills who is held up. Changeover. Roosters have a long way to go with not much time left.
76 min: Knock on by Kenny-Dowall who has been valiant in a losing effort.
Possible try to Cronulla but should be a no try.
79 min: TRY
It's been given! Ben Pomeroy has powered his way for the try which will win the game for Cronulla. Wright has taken the kicking duties from Porter and slams it over.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 18-4
The action doesn't end after fulltime. The NSW team for Origin I will be announced at 5pm. Click here for the team announcement as it happens!
80 min: Scott Porter pumps the ball downfield and that should be the fulltime siren. Cronulla have their first win in five weeks while Roosters sink deeper into the mire.