The Cronulla Sharks have emerged from a week of drama and outplayed the Brisbane Broncos, winning 20-10 at Toyota Park tonight. In a game they weren?t expected to win, the Sharks came up with the goods when it counted and put to rest one of the most tumultuous periods in the club?s history.

Coach Chris Anderson has been under enormous pressure to get the Sharks to fire after turmoil throughout the week which saw him almost sacked as club coach and publicly vilified by supporters for the direction in which he?s taking the Sutherland based club.

Nevertheless tonight his team fired against the odds and scored a solid yet ugly victory against a team ravaged with injury and the burden of representative duties. But the Sharks looked good from the start and after the first quarter of the game they were not headed by the Broncos.

Saturday 2 August 2003 7:30 PM Toyota Park Referee: Shayne Hayne Video Referee: Bill Harrigan Scorers: SHARKS Tries: Gallen, Kent, Bailey 2 Goals: Anderson 2/5 BRONCOS Tries: De Vere, Frawley Goals: De Vere 1/2

Leagueunlimited.com Player of the Year Awards

3 ? P. Bailey (Sharks) 2 ? M. De Vere (Broncos) 1 ? D. Peachey (Sharks)

By the clock:

De Vere gets us underway with a big kick-off.

8 min: TRY - Broncos. De Vere goes in for the visitors after some enterprising play which opened up the Sharks' defence. De Vere's 9th try for the year. Broncos lead the Sharks 4-nil.

9 min: De Vere converts easily to extend the lead to 6-nil in favour of the Broncos.

16 min: TRY - Sharks. Paul Gallen surges over from dummy half next to the sticks to get the Sharkies on the board. Broncos 6 Sharks 4.

17 min: Anderson adds the extras for the Sharks and the game is tied up at 6-all.

21 min: TRY - Sharks. Kimmorley makes a break in the centre of the ruck and throws a huge pass out wide for Jason Kent to score in the corner. Sharks lead 10-6 with a kick to come.

22 min: Anderson flays the attempt very wide from the sideline. Sharks still lead 10-6

27 min: TRY - Sharks. Kelly spills a bomb out wide and from the ensuing play Peachey kicks across field into the waiting arms of Phil Bailey who goes over for his 10th try of the year. Quite spectacular actually, and the Sharks are all over them in the opening exchanges, leading 14-6.

28 min: Anderson misses again, not interupting the scoreboard attendants and leaving the game at 14-6 in favour of the Sharkies.

40 min: TRY - Sharks. Bailey goes in again after cleaning up the scraps from a bungled bomb by the Broncos. Sharks mauling the Broncos 18-6 just before half time.

40 min: Anderson misses another from a difficult position. Sharks still lead 18-6.

HALF TIME

Chris Anderson would be feeling happy right now after a difficult week. The Sharks seem to be banding together behind the embattled coach for what looks like an upset victory over a premiership heavyweight. Wayne Bennett would probably be pointing to the heavy work load of his troops as a possible reason for tonight's underperformance.

Cronulla kick-off the get the second half in motion.

42 min: TRY - Broncos. Frawley scores on the wing to get Brisbane back in the game. Obviously Benny had a few words to say at half time which has had the desired effect. Sharks lead 18-10.

43 min: De Vere misses the kick and the scores stay Sharks 18 Broncos 10.

NEWS - Both teams making breaks and playing good footy at the moment but scrambling defence is the name of the game right now.

66 min: Broncos have a try disallowed to Casey MacGuire. Sharks look to be on top and could get away with the match as everything Brisbane attempt just isn't coming off tonight.

79 min: PENALTY GOAL - Sharks. Anderson boots a further two points to put the game beyond doubt. Sharks lead 20-10.

FULL TIME

Sharks take the points at Toyota Park tonight over a weary Broncos outfit that couldn't match it with them.