Sharks record famous win in the Central West

A crowd of 8,824 has watched Cronulla upset the Penrith Panthers 18-16 at Carrington Park in Bathurst on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Cronulla had all the running early on with a glut of possession eventually reaping rewards through a Jacob Gagan try in the 10th minute. Michael Gordon converted and the ball went back down the other end, and eventually Penrith were able to switch the momentum - Dallin Watene Zelezniak the scorer for his side in the 17th minute. The foreign territory proved difficult for Jamie Soward who was unable to convert.

Penrith continued to pile on the pressure as the game continued, but eventually Cronulla's defence held strong and they were able to forge away up the other end resulting in a try to Gordon. This was added to by Jacob Gagan grabbing his second before the Panthers hit back to reduce the halftime margin to just four points.

As the field got heavier, the second half deteriorated into a slog with the Panthers posting first points and ultimately pulling in front, Dean Whare dashing in out wide. Soward's conversion meant the hosts led for the first time in the match but it only lasted five or six minutes before Tagataese ran onto a Andrew Fifita break and kept on going to outpace the Penrith chasers and put his side back in front.

Cronulla continued to control the match for a bit longer before Penrith shifted the momentum into the last ten minutes - but remained unable to cross. A late shout for a Sharks try went to the video referee but was denied through a Jacob Gagan knock on.

Next week Penrith will look to bounce back against fellow top four side Canterbury on Friday night at ANZ Stadium, while the Sharks head home to host Parramatta on Saturday afternoon in Round 21.

Venue: Carrington Park
Crowd: 7824
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 10 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14

3 points - Andrew Fitita
2 points - Jacob Gagan
1 point - Dean Whare

PENRITH PANTHERS (16)
Tries: Dallin Watene Zelezniak, Kevin Naiqama, Dean Whare
Conversions: Jamie Soward (2/3)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (14)
Tries: Jacob Gagan (2), Michael Gordon
Conversions: Michael Gordon (1/3)

Footy in the bush! How good is it - we're at Carrington Park in Bathurst for this one on a nice Central-Western afternoon. There's been a bit of rain in the lead up so the surface isn't the best but it should be a classic clash anyway. Cronulla will be desperate to keep touch with Canberra at the foot of the table as they fight to avoid the spoon, while the Panthers are trying to stay close to competition leaders Manly and can draw level with a win today.

TEAM NEWS - the visitors have put theirs in and Bryce Gibbs & Anthony Tupou are OUT. Cronulla's bench reshuffles with Chris Heighington & Sam Tagataese to start at lock. Bench of Poltoni Prior Arona and Robinson.

TEAM NEWS - Penrith just the one change with Adam Docker omitted. Sika Manu will come off the bench in jumper 23.

2: Cronulla the first to go on the attack today, promising signs from the last-placed side.

3: And that forces a dropout. Peter Wallace is down as well, not good signs after he went underneath a tackle.

5: Fifita (yep, Andrew Fifita) grubbers through and Kevin Naiqama is trapped in goal. Another dropout.

7: A penalty, Cronulla piling on the pressure and now Penrith knock it on attempting a tackle through Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Sharks scrum 10m out.

8: Now another penalty for Cronulla! Possession creeping up to 90% Sharks.

10: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jacob Gagan. Kick to come.
Robson goes high on the last to the right and Gagan out-jumps Naiqama to score!

11: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Just seven metres in from touch, Gordon moves in... and he's nailed it. Great kick.

13: Penrith finally with some ball and in field position to boot.

14: Gordon tackles Moylan who opted to run it on the last. Handover Cronulla on their own line.

16: Peter Wallace cops another knock to his foot and he's now gone off up the tunnel.

17: Now Michael Lichaa is down on the turf after copping a knock from Nigel Plum on the way down. He'll go off for the concussion test.

18: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Kick to come.
Big DWZ, the winger is in! Good use of numbers on the right. Whare throws the last pass.

19: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Just two metres in from touch, Sowie hits it.... horribly.

21: Penrith gather a penalty and go on the attack again.

21: Jamal Idris held up over the line on the fourth.

23: Cronulla withstand the onslaught and now get a penalty and go on the attack at the other end.

24: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Michael Gordon. Kick to come.
Play goes left to right to right to left and it's tapped back off a kick eventually for Gordon who wraps around the back and scores out wide!

26: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
From the other touchline this time and Gordon has similar luck to Soward - waved well away.

29: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Jacob Gagan. Kick to come.
Michael Gordon with a scathing mid-field break... he's dragged down but quick hands on the next play see Gagan cross in the corner.

31: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
Another miss from the Sharks' custodian, this one breezes away to the right.

33: Cronulla putting pressure on themselves here giving away multiple penalties.

34: VIDEO REFEREE possible Panthers try to Kevin Naiqama.

34: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Kevin Naiqama. Kick to come.
Naiqama crosses in the corner off a well-worked left side play.

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
From the opposite touchline it looks like Soward has had better luck... yep, he's got it!

36: Leutele makes a cracking break and Cronulla are on the Panthers line with 2 tackles up their sleeve... and now Jono Wright is over! Wait, held up? VIDEO REFEREE getting the call... on-field is NO TRY.

36: NO TRY. It's tackle four, play the ball for Cronulla 10m from the Penrith line.

40: Both sides with some dropsies to end the half. Sharks pack a scrum off a Penrith error with three seconds left but they don't make anything out of it. HALFTIME.

41: One tackle into the second half and Penrith have a penalty. McKendry upended in a lifting taackle.

47: Wallace back out there for Penrith - good signs for the host side. Penrith with a scrum on their own 10m after Graham drills it into touch.

51: Wallace hit hard again but this one is legal. Penrith with it on the Cronulla line, and they force a drop-out.

51: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dean Whare. Kick to come.
Numbers, players in motion, Whare finds the hole and ducks through.

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward pushes the Panthers in front for the first time today.