Sharks discover spark to rout Roosters

The Cronulla Sharks have sounded a warning to all-comers tonight after thrashing the Sydney Roosters to the tune of 42-18 in front of over 7,000 fans at the SFS.

Both sides were expected to play conservative football with the ground still soggy underfoot, but the Sharks chose to open it up in the first half, an early penalty goal opening the way for backrowers Grant Millington and Paul Gallen to score back to back tries and within a ten minute period the Roosters found themselves down 14-0. The Sharks elected for another penalty goal not long after and looked liked they may have fallen off the pace when Phil Graham opened the Roosters' account on the half hour mark, but a try to Siosaia Vave on halftime capped a strong half for the boys from the Shire, and gave them a 22-6 lead at oranges.

A new half brought renewed energy and hope for the Roosters, Shaun Kenny-Dowall crossing for the home side and closing the margin to 10 points... but that was as close as it got. The Sharks hit back in the 55th through a Herculean effort by fullback Nathan Gardner to run over 80 metres to score from a kick return - a try that is sure to feature on highlight reels at years end, regardless of where Cronulla finish.

The Sharks went on with it from there, with Taulima Tautai, John Morris and finally Trent Barrett all crossing, and save for a Todd Carney consolation try it was all Cronulla as the game wound down.

Melbourne looks to be a daunting trip next week for the Roosters, while Cronulla will take a leap and bound up the ladder with the bye points to be added to tonights victory.

Match Details
Sydney Roosters 18 were defeated by Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 42
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 13 - Saturday June 5, 2010 7:30pm
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Tony De Las Heras
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy and Michael Wise
Crowd: 7934
Halftime: Sydney Roosters 22 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Paul Gallen (1 Try)
2 Points - Nathan Gardner (1 Try, 5 Conversions, 2 Penalty Goals)
1 Point - Grant Millington (1 Try)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Todd Carney, Phil Graham, Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Conversions: Todd Carney (3/3)

CRONULLA SUTHERLAND SHARKS (42)
Tries: John Morris, Paul Gallen, Taulima Tautai, Grant Millington, Trent Barrett, Nathan Gardner, Siosaia Vave
Conversions: Nathan Gardner (5/7)
Penalty Goals: Nathan Gardner (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Super Saturday goes from west to east, a handful of fans braving the cold at the SFS with the Roosters and Sharks going head to head. Toyota Cup saw the home side the Roosters get home 24-20 with a try in the dying minutes to Ben Jones. Earlier today at Terry Lamb Reserve we also had the postponed Toyota Cup match between Canterbury and the Tigers - the Bulldogs coming from 16 points down to end up victorious 36-30.
The Roosters will come here looking to build on their confidence-boosting win over Gold Coast on Monday night, but in doing so will miss Sam Perrett through injury. Joseph Leilua will start and Tom Symonds is on the bench in Leilua's place. Cronulla are 1-17. The tunnel now is filled with Sharks, and then Roosters players as the teams take the field. Ready for time on.
1 min: Cummins gets play underway. The other referee today is Tony De Las Heras. Cronulla will take possession to start us off.
3 min: A good free-flowing start from both sides comes undone when Tupou is ruled to have lost the ball. Question mark over the decision as there were Rooster hands involved but the scrum is awarded to the home side nonetheless.
6 min: NO TRY the Roosters with Minichiello pouncing on a ball in goal after some lazy Sharks defence. Mini hasn't grounded it though, no try and a Sharks 20m tap.
7 min: Penalty for the visitors puts them in attacking territory now. The Roosters will be forced to defend their line for the first time today.
9 min: PENALTY GOAL
PENALTY GOAL Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Penalty goal attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
Frank-Paul Nuuasuala and Paul Gallen come to blows after some niggle in a tackle and the defending team are penalised. The Sharks elect to kick for goal, with which Gardner has no problems.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 2-0
12 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Sharks try to Grant Millington.
13 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by Grant Millington. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
A positive start from Cronulla, Millington swooping on a kick through the line and with Gardner's conversion the visitors are up by eight!
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 8-0
16 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Sharks try to Paul Gallen. Worrying signs early for the Roosters!
17 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by Paul Gallen. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
The try is awarded to Gallen, Carney spilling a high ball, interference from Nathan Gardner ruled out and Gal sweeps on the scraps to extend Cronulla's lead, which Gardner converts and takes to 14-0.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 14-0
20 min: A break from Shaun Kenny-Dowall down the right-side touchline is shut down about 20m from the line. The Roosters settle the play but on play five Todd Carney's grubber fines Gardner easily and the Sharks will work it away now.
23 min: The Sharks supporters in fine voice in the stands here at the SFS, as a Sydney Roosters error gives the Sharks a scrum on the 10m line. Prime chance to put more points on here!
24 min: PENALTY GOAL
PENALTY GOAL Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Penalty goal attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
Now they give away a penalty under the posts right in front. This kick doesn't even test Gardner, and the Sharks extend their lead to sixteen.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 16-0
27 min: Fifth tackle, the Roosters make a good downfield play and Carney puts the kick into the ingoal, Gardner trapped in goal, it'll be a line.. no, he's got out! That's poor from the Roosters, they had four men surrounding him and he managed to wrongfoot them and get out. Nothing going right for the red blue and white.
31 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Phil Graham. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Some good draw-and-pass skill from Mitchell Pearce sends Phil Graham over out wide - a fantastic Todd Carney conversion closes the gap to ten. The try comes on the back of the Roosters first foray into attacking territory for a good 15-20 minutes.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 16-6
33 min: Terrible stuff from rookie Masoe, he's spilt it early in the count. Sharks scrum and they attack now.
34 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Sharks try to Siosaia Vave.
35 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by Siosaia Vave. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
Vave has a stab from dummy half and he's managed to force the ball despite the attention of plenty of Roosters defenders. Tim Mander says REFS CALL and Cummins awards the four-pointer... which Gardner makes six.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 22-6
38 min: Adam Cuthbertson spills the ball as the Sharks get closer to the danger zone. Roosters scrum, to be fed 30m out from their own line.
39 min: A Roosters break sees Mitch Aubusson put it on the toe but Gardner cleans up, and in his return Minichiello collars him - penalty Cronulla.
40 min: HALFTIME and the SFS erupts in a chorus of boos - some reserved for the men in pink but many for the Roosters as they trail the Sharks 22-6. Handling, discipline and defence have been their biggest crimes tonight, and if they don't work on that in the second half they're in a heap of trouble. The Sharks have dominated possession and field position and it will be interesting to see how they handle being in front by so many.
41 min: The second half begins, the Roosters have the first set and send it wide to the left late in the count but an error from Leilua kills their momentum. Sharks scrum just inside their own half.
43 min: Tim Smith puts up a bomb on the last but a Sharks drop-ball gives the Roosters a handover play-the-ball 10m out. It's now compounded by a penalty - which Mitchell Pearce puts into touch well into the Sharks half, a big touch-finder!
45 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
A good start from the Roosters to this second half, Pearce grubbers through, Gardner drops it and Kenny-Dowall picks it up and scores an easy try.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 22-12
47 min: Another penalty against Cronulla, this will put the Roosters inside Sharks territory again.
49 min: Another error from the Sharks after they had seemingly defused the Roosters attack, a scrum now will give the home side another chance.
53 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by Nathan Gardner. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner unsuccessful.
What a try!!!! Nathan Gardner has run the best part of 90 metres. Anasta puts the bomb up and Gardner fields it, gets by one, two, three... thirteen Roosters and just keeps going! He's scored out wide and extended the lead for his side. Exhaused, his conversion attempt goes wide.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 26-12
58 min: A bomb tests Todd Carney but he takes it safely and the return from the Roosters is golden! Minichiello's away but ohhhhh it's a forward pass. Sharks scrum a little over 10m from the Roosters line. Tough call.
62 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by John Morris. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
John Morris compounds the Roosters' misery and scores a try for the Sharks. Gardner converts again and this is looking ugly...
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 32-12
65 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Sharks try to Taulima Tautai.
66 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by Taulima Tautai. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner successful.
Taulima Tautai brushes past a few and just gets the tip of the ball down on the line. Mander awards the try from the video referees box. Gardner's conversion is good.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 38-12
70 min: Booshka! Minichiello takes a pass out wide but he's bundled forcefully into touch... and into a FOX Sports cameraman! Sharks scrum on their own 10m line.
74 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Scored by Todd Carney. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Todd Carney nabs a consolation try underneath the sticks and the scoreline looks slightly less embarrassing for the home team as we enter the final five minutes.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 38-18
79 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Scored by Trent Barrett. Conversion attempt by Nathan Gardner unsuccessful.
An easy right-side play wrongfoots Leilua and Ferguson is away... he finds Barrett inside who crosses the line - and further pushes his claims for a sky-blue jersey. Gardner's foot must be getting sore - he misses his final conversion attempt as the siren sounds behind him.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 42-18
FULLTIME and the Cronulla Sharks have put together their best performance since the 2008 season to demolish the Roosters to the tune of 42-18. No energy from the Roosters early and the Sharkies momentum was too strong - a big win for them and they leave Canterbury and North Queensland languishing on the ladder with the two points taking them level with Newcastle now.