Sharks hammer Storm

Fulltime score: Round 22 SHARKS 40 v STORM 16 Match summary: The Cronulla Sharks have come away convincing winners, defeating the Melbourne Storm 40-16 at Toyota Park tonight.

The Storm opened the scoring after just six minutes, but the home side responded with three tries and a penalty goal to lead 20-4 after 27 minutes.

Melbourne struck back in the 32nd minute to get within 10. But the Sharks crossed just before the break and at half time, held a handy 24-10 lead.

The Sharks went further ahead in the second half with another three tries before the Storm crossed for a consolation try in the 79th minute.

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

Scorers: CRONULLA SHARKS 40 Tries: Simmonds 2, Nutley, Hilder, Williams, Dykes, Scott Goals: Covell 6/8 MELBOURNE STORM 16 Tries Webster, Kafusi, Bell Goals: Smith 1/2, Orford 1/1

Toyota Park Referee: Stephen Clark Half time: Sharks 24-10

Live commentary: Tonight sees the 6th place Melbourne Storm travelling to Toyota Park to meet the Cronulla Sharks with both sides on 24 competition points. As the Storm have an outstanding For and Against, a loss will not see them drop out of the top 8 while a loss could see the home side drop out of the 8.

Changes for the Storm: Kafusi, Turner, Chan IN Cronk, White, Scott OUT. Sharks: Mellars OUT Scott IN

0 min: Kickoff!

6 min: TRY-Storm Jake Webster scores in the corner for the away side after poor possession from the Sharks. Cameron Smith hits the upright with the conversion. Storm 4-0

9 min: NEWS All in brawl thanks to forearm from Donnelly and Dykes hits back with punches. Sharks get the penalty.

11 min: NEWS Scott Hill taken from the field with what looks like a knee injury.

12 min: NEWS-Sin Bin David Kidwell sinbinned for a niggling penalty with the knees in the head of Paul Gallen then replying by mocking Clark when called out.

13 min: Try-Sharks Nutley barges over from first receiver. Covell converts from under the posts.Sharks 6-4

15 min: NEWS-On Report Young-star Beau Scott on report for a late hit on Cameron Smith.

20 min: TRY-Sharks Reece Williams scores under the posts after cutting back off a beautiful ball for Brett Kimmorley. Covell converts.Kidwell back from the sin bin. Sharks 12-4

23 min: NEWS-On Report Dallas Johnson on report for a late hit on Brett Kimmorley. Covell lines up for 2 points.

24 min: PENALTY GOAL Covell adds the 2 points from the penalty against Johnson. Sharks 14-4

27 min: TRY-Sharks Matt Hilder given the green light by the video referee after an accidental kick by a Sharks player. Covell converts. Sharks 20-4

32 min: TRY-Storm Kafusi too strong close to the line as the Storm built up pressure off the back of ill-discipline from the Sharks. Orford converts. Sharks 20-10

38 min: TRY-Sharks Simmonds scores in the corner for the Sharks off a beautique run around off a scrum 10 metres out. Covell's attempt slices the upright. Sharks 24-10

HALFTIME: Melbourne got off to a great start but in a fiery contest, the Sharks have shown the credentials that make them a top 8 force as they ran to a 24-10 halftime lead on the back of a great go forward from Gallen and Nutley. The kicking game from Dykes and Kimmorley has given the Sharks great territorial advantage.

40 min: Kickoff in the 2nd half!

43 min: TRY-Sharks What could well be the sealer, Simmonds gets his second after some great end to end football from the Sharks to start the second half. Covell unsuccessful. Sharks 28-10

52 min: NEWS Sharks getting numerous sets on the opposition line due to the poor handling from the Storm.

58 min: TRY-Sharks Dykes bumps his way over beside the posts after Kimmorley hit him on the chest with another beautiful pass. Covell converts. Sharks 34-10

71 min: NEWS Play is stopped for quite a few minutes as Matt Orford lays motionless in back play with what looks like a knee injury. However he is determined to stay out on the field but the trainers and coach Bellemy insist on him coming off.

74 min: TRY-Sharks Beau Scott makes a break and takes 3 people across the line with him. Covell converts. Sharks 40-10

79 min: TRY-Storm Storm centre Steven Bell crosses in the corner from some lazy defence on full time from the home side. Smith's kick is a beauty. Sharks 40-16

FULLTIME: Cronulla Sharks 40 Defeated Melbourne Storm 16. The Sharks have proved doubters wrong by thrashing the Melbourne Storm 40-16. The Storm were no improvement from last week as too many handling errors crept in to their game. ----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - A Dykes (Sharks) 2 - P Gallen (Sharks) 1 - B Kimmorley (Sharks) -----------------------------------------