Sharks compound Cowboy
misery

Round 14
North Queensland Cowboys 4 v Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 26
at Dairy Farmers Stadium
Referee: Sean Hampstead

Match Summary:
The Cronulla Sharks continued their current rich vein of form with a 26-4 win at the expense of the fading North Queensland Cowboys. The Sharks led 8-4 at half time and ran away with the match in the second half.

It only took nine minutes for the Sharks to open the scoring, Brett Kimmorley juking past several static defenders to score under the posts. The Cowboys responded with their only points on a poor night with a fairly spectacular try to Brenton Bowen. He jumped to collect a Matt Bowen bomb, juggled the ball on his way to the ground where he planted the ball. Covell rounded out the first half scoring with an impressive 38 metre penalty goal on 28 minutes.

The Cowboys never really threatened in the second half. In the 49th minute Darren Albert was rewarded for energetically following up a kick for field position when the ball was fumbled by Brenton Bowen, and Albert won the race to get his hands on the ball in the in goal. The match was all but over just before the hour mark when Paul Gallen barged over, and the knife was twisted in the Cowboys wound with seven minutes to go when Hutch Maiava crashed over to score his first try of the year, and the Cowboys were consigned to the sixth loss in their last seven games.


Scorers:
North Queensland Cowboys: 4
Tries: Brenton Bowen
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks: 26
Tries: Paul Gallen, Brett Kimmorley, Hutch Maiava, Darren Albert
Goals: Luke Covell 5/5

By the Clock:
Good evening from Townsville. Tonight we have the Cowboys facing up against the Sharks. Earlier in the year the Sharks upset the Cowboys and ended their undefeated start to the year.

Last week the Cowboys went down to the Tigers 24-14, while the Sharks were victorious against the bye.

Fine conditions are Dairy Farmers for tonights match. Both teams are on the field, and we're ready to go.

1 min: The Cowboys get us underway!

5 min: INJURY - Aaron Payne is injured after hitting the goalposts.

9 min: TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Kimmorley gets the ball 10 metres out and he steps between two defenders and scores under the posts. Covell converts.
Sharks 6-0

13 min: A great set from the Cowboys gets them onto the goal line, a long ball is intercepted by Vagana who runs 90 metres only to be pulled back for offside.

14 min: The Cowboys waste a perfect attacking set with a poor play the ball on the last tackle.

20 min: The Sharks make a mistake near their own line.

22 min: Firman is held up on the 4th tackle when the Cowboys ought to have scored.

23 min: TRY North Queensland Cowboys
On the last tackle, Matt Bowen puts up a bomb that is juggled by Brenton Bowen, before he grounds the ball. Hannay misses the conversion.
Sharks 6-4

28 min: INJURY NEWS: Aaron Payne on the sideline with one eye firmly shut.

28 min: PENALTY GOAL Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
The Cowboys are penalised for being offside, Covell lands the penalty from 38 metres out.
Sharks 8-4

38 min: Both teams getting a little niggly.

40 min: HALFTIME: The Sharks with a somewhat unexpected 8-4 lead at halftime.

Lot of mistakes in the first half. Here's hoping for an improvement in quality for the second half.

40 min: Teams returning to the field at Dairy Farmers.

43 min: Sharks go on attack care of a penalty.

47 min: Cowboys beggining to look semi decent on attack.

49 min: VIDEO REF for a Sharks try...

49 min: TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
A seemingly innocuous kick from Kimmorley is fumbled by Brenton Bowen and Darren Albert wins the race to dot the ball down. Covell converts from near the sideline.
Sharks 14-4

53 min: The Cowboys now kick out on the full.

54 min: A poor kick from the Sharks now goes out on the full.

56 min: Covell pressures Sing on another ordinary kick and forces a drop out.

57 min: TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Gallen barges over from close range after the drop out. Covell converts from next to the posts. It looks like the Cowboys are headed for defeat.
Sharks 20-4

63 min: 17 minutes to go and the Cowboys look no closer to mounting a comeback.

68 min: Nothing the Cowboys throw at the Sharks is even looking at denting this 16 point lead.

72 min: The Sharks are held up on the fourth tackle. The following play forces a Matt Bowen error and results in a drop out.

73 min: TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Maiava barges over to open his try scoring account for 2006. Covell converts from under the uprights.
Sharks 26-4

80 min: FULLTIME: The Sharks have run away with this match in the second half and have won 26-4.
-----------------------------------------
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Lance Thompson
2 - Brett Kimmorley
1 - Paul Gallen
-----------------------------------------