Cronulla annihilate disgraced
Manly

Fulltime score: Round 24 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 68 v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 6

Match summary: Manly have today been given an absolute hiding by an on-fire Sharks outfit. The 68-6 scoreline flatters the Sea Eagles, who were never in the game and deserved to lose by more.

On an afternoon which saw 13 tries scored in total (12 of those for Cronulla), Manly displayed woeful defence for the entire eighty minutes. Kimmorley orchestrated a great win for the Sharks who are now looking threatening with two weeks of regular premiership left.

Other standouts for Cronulla included Beau Scott, Nigel Vagana and Jason Stevens, while Manly's Michael Monaghan and Steve Menzies were the only players to any heart. Shayne Dunley was constantly in trouble for niggling and his frustration carried on for much of the game.

Cronulla now look to move forward and challenge the top sides in the finals, while the Eagles are now in dire straits, and with the Bulldogs, Raiders and Roosters all breathing down their neck, are in real danger of missing the eight.

Sharks v Eagles match photos: Click here to see the photo gallery for this game

Scorers: CRONULLA SUTHERLAND SHARKS 68 Tries: B Kimmorley 3, N Vagana 3, B Scott 2, M Hilder, J Stevens, P Mellor, P Gallen Goals: L Covell 10/12 MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 6 Tries: S Menzies Goals: M Witt 1/1

Venue: Toyota Park Referee: Tim Mander Half time: Sharks 38-0

Live commentary: 0 min: Kickoff! We're underway at Toyota Park. Kennedy declared fit, playing for Manly. Big shuffle-up with Terry Hill, Chad Randall and Ash Alberts all ruled out.

1 min: NEWS Cronulla on the attack early.

3 min: NEWS Cronulla bomb an early tryscoring opportunity. 0 all.

6 min: NEWS Manly get a dubious penalty close to the line but the ball is spilled on the first play, so Cronulla get out of jail. 0 all.

7 min: NEWS- INJURY Brett Stewart is down, not looking well. Possible knee injury. Witt comes on. 0 all.

13 min: TRY- SHARKS Kimmorley burrows over beside the posts. Covell conversion leather perfect. Sharks 6-0.

18 min: VIDEO REF- SHARKS Possible try for Hilder as Kingston taps the ball back in-goal, after a big break by Simmons. Decision pending... TRY- SHARKS Hilder has scored a bizarre try. Covell kick successful. Sharks on song at the moment, Manly looking like the injuries are taking their toll. Sharks 12-0.

22 min: TRY- SHARKS Cronulla are putting the stake to Manly, Stevens crashing over under the posts. Covell converts. Sharks 18-0.

25 min: TRY- SHARKS Beau Scott in due to some Kimmorley flair. Covell converts. Sharks 24-0.

29 min: TRY- SHARKS Cronulla drive another nail into Manly as Vagana goes over close to the posts. Covell misses for the first time today. Sharks scoring at almost a point a minute, Manly's defence almost non-existent. Sharks 28-0.

32 min: TRY- SHARKS Kimmorley becomes the first to score a double today as Manly's horror afternoon continues. Covell converts. Sharks 34-0.

36 min: TRY- SHARKS No shortage of points today as Cronulla continue to destroy Manly. Mellor in this time off a sensational pass from Sully. Covell misses. Sharks 38-0.

HALFTIME: Cronulla Sutherland 38 Manly Warringah 0. A bizarre half of football has ended and Cronulla are leading a tattered Manly outfit by 38 points to nil. The Eagles have practically done nothing in defence and only were saved late in the half by a penalty against the Sharkies. The last four minutes of the half got dirtier as scuffles broke out and Dunley (Manly) even threatened to make an accusation of eye-gouging on Nutley (Cronulla). Manly can kiss their premiership chances goodbye if they don't launch a strong second half performance.

Second half underway...

46 min: NEWS Manly dominating early second half but poor options have seen them not yet cross. Four straight sets and they're still on the attack. Sharks 38-0.

49 min: TRY- SHARKS Beau Scott try for Cronulla. Covell conversion from out wide is wobbly but there. Sharks 44-0.

52 min: TRY- SHARKS Kimmorley hat-trick. Covell converts. Sharks 50-0.

58 min: TRY- SHARKS Vagana gets a double, Manly get even more woeful. Covell kicks the goal. Sharks 56-0.

63 min: TRY- SHARKS Gallen reverses over the line. Covell kick once again awesome. Sharks 62-0.

67 min: TRY- SEA EAGLES Menzies scores on Manly's dismal day. Witt converts. Sharks 62-6.

74 min: TRY- SHARKS Vaganas triple is complete after some very weak Manly defence. Covell converts. Sharks 68-6.

FULLTIME: Cronulla Sutherland 68 Manly Warringah 6. A disgraceful Manly has lost by 62 points against a red-hot Sharks outfit. Non-existent defence and even worse attack has seen Cronulla put on their biggest win ever, eclipsing the 64-14 victory over Newcastle just three years ago. Manly have now opened the door to Canterbury, Canberra and Sydney to have one last shot at eighth spot if their form continues. Kimmorley, Vagana, Stevens, Gallen and Scott all Cronulla's best, while Monaghan was a pilot light in what was a pitiful display for Manly. Shayne Dunley had a particularly difficult game, niggling at every opportunity and giving referee Mander trouble.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - B Kimmorley (Sharks) 2 - N Vagana (Sharks) 1 - B Scott (Sharks) -----------------------------------------