Sharks first half blitz shocks Roosters

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Cronulla have produced a 26 point first half display to roll over the first placed Roosters 32 points to 22 in front of 11,418 fans at Shark Park.

The home side set the tone for the game in their opening set, rolling downfield thanks to a Todd Carney 40/20. He put it on the boot again to set up Paul Gallen for the opening try.

Cronulla were continuing to dominate the much vaunted Roosters pack goading them into conceding penalties. Carney stepped up after several in a row to make it 8-0.

It was the calm before the storm - in the ten minute period before halftime, they went from 8-0 to 26-0 and a standing ovation from the eleven thousand fans in attendance.

A nicely worked outside in ball from Anthony Tupou sent Michael Gordon away in the 33rd minute. Tupou laid on the next one for Johnathan Wright in the 38th to remind fans of his game changing abilites.

Chris Heighington with the final act of the half, brought the house down in the 40th minute after a one-on-one steal on Shaun Kenny-Dowall to dive over for a rare four pointer.

The Roosters offered a brief resistance putting two tries on back-to-back within five minutes. Daniel Tupou showed his finishing skills diving over. Daniel Mortimer was in the right position after some sublime work from Williams and Tuivasa-Sheck to dive over.

For the usually resolute Roosters they were dominated across the park. The Sharks prayed on the errors growing from the frustration from the away side after they were denied a try in the 59th minute.

Carney when offered potted penalty goals for fun to inch the gap further away from the Roosters who improved in the second half scoring twice. Daniel Tupou made it a brace with another well finished effort and Michael Jennings who had a quiet night slipped past two defenders.

This sets up a potential blockbuster in the final round for the minor premiership between the two foundation clubs in the NRL while Cronulla move into 5th position above the Bulldogs.

Match Details
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 32 Sydney Roosters 22
Venue: Endeavour Field
Crowd: 11418
Halftime Score: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26-0

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Todd Carney
2 points - Anthony Tupou
1 point - Paul Gallen

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (32)
Tries: Wade Graham, Michael Gordon, Jonathan Wright, Chris Heighington
Field Goals:
Conversions: Todd Carney (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Todd Carney (4/4)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (22)
Tries: Daniel Tupou (2), Daniel Mortimer, Michael Jennings
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (3/4)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Sharks: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Ben Pomeroy 4. Jonathan Wright 5. Beau Ryan 6. Todd Carney 7. Jeff Robson 8. Andrew Fifita 9. John Morris 13. Paul Gallen 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 16. Jayson Bukuya (c)
Interchange: 14. Isaac De Gois 15. Chris Heighington 17. Anthony Tupou 18. Sam Tagataese

Roosters: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 18. Samisoni Langi 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Sam Moa 4. Mitchell Aubusson 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Interchange: 14. Daniel Mortimer 11. Aidan Guerra 16. Isaac Liu 17. Dylan Napa
TEAM CHANGES:

CRO: Bryce Gibbs is out prompting a re-shuffle, Paul Gallen starts at prop with Jayson Bukuya going into his position and Sam Tagataese takes the last bench spot.

SYD: Some re-shuffling for the Roosters as well with Samisoni Langi making his DEBUT in the centres allowing Mitchell Aubusson to go back into the second row. Aidan Guerra heads back to the bench in place of the suspended Luke O'Donnell.
Welcome to Remondis Stadium for this top 8 clash which see the 7th place Cronulla Sharks hosting the 1st place Sydney Roosters. Late changes are below and we are around 10 minutes away from kick off.
The teams are on the field - Roosters will kick off and run left to right this first half.
1 min: KICK OFF!
1 min: 40/20 CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Todd Carney kicks a 40/20.
Great start by the Sharks as Carney kicks a 40/20!
2 min: VIDEO REFEREE SHARKS - Carney has kicked this into the in-goal. Checking Graham's grounding.
2 min: Graham as completely missed this but Gallen has grounded the ball after!
3 min: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Wade Graham. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Video referee says try!! Carney rolled a kick into the in goal and Graham had an air swing at the ball. Gallen came in and put the ball down. Carney's kick if successful.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6-0
5 min: Roosters have their first possession of the ball and complete their first set.
6 min: PENALTY SHARKS - SBW drops the shoulder into Beau Ryan.
6 min: VIDEO REFEREE SHARKS - We have a NO TRY after some wonderful right side passing. Checking shoulder charge and grounding.
6 min: Feki doesn't get the ball down at all. This will be a no try.
7 min: PENALTY SHARKS - Penalty is for a shoulder charge by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9 min: Sharks are definitely the team of top right now!
10 min: Some push and shove in the scrum between Gallen and Waera-Hargreaves
11 min: PENALTY ROOSTERS - Sharks inside the 10m. Roosters with their first attacking chance.
12 min: PENALTY ROOSTERS - a full set of six right on the line!
13 min: Feki with an amazing catch in the in goal and he restarts the play on the 20m line.
14 min: Carney's kick is stopped by Maloney in the air.
15 min: PENALTY SHARKS - Holding down too long
17 min: PENALTY ROOSTERS - Graham has collected Tuivasa-Sheck high
17 min: SCRUM SHARKS - Roosters were shifting it wide but Nuuausala's pass to SBW was forward.
18 min: PENALTY SHARKS - Roosters offside
18 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Sharks take the opportunity for 2 points. Carney puts it over the black dot.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-0
21 min: Tuivasa-Sheck with some speed as he attempts to break the Sharks defence.
21 min: SIX AGAIN!!! The Sharks have touched the ball at the end of the Roosters set. Roosters right on the goal line.
22 min: Young Langi on debut attempts to offload but does into the Sharks arms.
24 min: PENALTY ROOSTERS - Sharks holding down. Roosters need to start scoring here.
24 min: PENALTY ROOSTERS - bit of leg flapping encourages a penalty and Roosters get another set of six on the goal line.
25 min: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves can't control the ball and the ball falls into the Sharks arms.
25 min: Maloney has winded Beau Ryan there as we have a break in play. Play on.
30 min: PENALTY Sharks - for a strip.
33 min: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Michael Gordon. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
The Sharks make the PENALTY count. Anthony Tupou with the inside ball found Michael Gordon steaming into a hole and scoring. Carney adds the extras.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-0
35 min: Sharks are on point tonight! Tupou tried to get out but is swarmed on.
38 min: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jonathan Wright. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
The last try was all grace, this one all power. Johnathan Wright off Anthony Tupou again crosses for an easy four pointer. Carney makes it 4/4 conversions.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20-0
40 min: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Chris Heighington. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall was pick-pocketed there! He was charging into the line and Chris Heighington steals it, running the required distance for the score! Carney will add the easy two.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26-0
41 min: Both teams are back onto the field at Remondis, Sharks ready to kick us off.
41 min: KICK-OFF and we're underway again.
41 min: Not the start the Roosters wanted - Napa knocking it on.
45 min: PENALTY Roosters after Sonny Bill teased to offload.
46 min: Holding down again, another PENALTY.
47 min: Roosters probing the line and will get a PENALTY for SBW being taken out.
VIDEO REFEREE: Upstairs for a TRY to Daniel Tupou, checking obstruction.
48 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Daniel Tupou dives in after a nice cut-out from Maloney. The pressure finally tolling on the Sharks. Maloney from the sideline, converts.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26-6
50 min: A shambles on last tackle there for the Sharks as Pomeroy spills it.
53 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Mortimer. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Back to back tries! Sonny Bill poked through the line again, offloaded to Tuivasa-Sheck who bamboozled Carney and found Mortimer for the TRY. Maloney adds the extras.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26-12
54 min: Roosters try to shift wide but it gets put down by Langi.
55 min: PENALTY against Hargreaves, hitting Heighington late.
55 min: Carney points to the sticks..
56 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Todd Carney successful.
and he pilots it through
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 28-12
VIDEO REFEREE: Roosters might have pulled some globetrotter stuff here.. checking contest.
59 min: RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Tupou is deemed to have obstructed a player. Sharks PENALTY.
60 min: That was a jarring hit from Pomeroy to force the error.
61 min: SIX MORE after Carney's kick rebounded onto Friend.
62 min: A lucky rebound there as the post allowed the Sharks chasers to drop Sonny Bill.
64 min: PENALTY Sharks - Rubbish in the play-the-ball. Carney once again, points to the sticks.
65 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Once again - it goes through. Sharks out to an eighteen point lead.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30-12
66 min: Roosters go the short kick-off route and it pays dividends after Pomeroy is taken over the sideline.
67 min: Grubber is stabbed through for a repeat set for the Roosters.
68 min: PENALTY Roosters - Heighington was never back the ten.
70 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Some nice quick hands found Tupou who slides in again for his second! Maloney needs to convert all kicks from herein and swings it wide.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30-16
72 min: Knock on from Cronulla. Roosters fortunate to get another set.
72 min: It has been reversed.. Sharks ball.
73 min: PENALTY Sharks - offside.
73 min: Predictable but Carney points to the sticks again..
74 min: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Todd Carney successful.
The game is truly sealed with that penalty goal.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 32-16
77 min: PENALTY Roosters - 21 penalties all up in this contest.
78 min: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Jennings finally got some space tonight and slips through to score! Maloney converts.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 32-22
79 min: Tough pass and dropped by Aubusson.
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