Sharks upset Titans in the Shire

The Cronulla Sharks have sent Trent Barrett and Luke Covell out winners in their last home games for the club with a comprehensive 30-16 win over the Gold Coast Titans tonight. The Sharks led 18-6 at half time.

The Sharks opened the scoring in the sixth minute. A Scott Prince pass out wide bounced brilliantly for Luke Covell, playing in his last home game for Cronulla, who took the intercept to score.

They doubled their lead in the 17th minute with a brilliant team try. After the ball went through several sets of hands Gallen ran past several defenders before setting up Gardner to score under the posts.

The Titans struck back after half an hour when Bodene Thompson came down with a Mat Rogers cross kick.

Cronulla restored their 12 point lead after Paul Gallen scored from dummy half for the 18-6 half time lead.

The Titans looked on the verge of a comeback when Bodene Thompson claimed his second after a great team effort in keeping the ball alive.

As had been the theme of the night, the Sharks restored their 12 point buffer again after Tim Smith took advantage of a confused Gold Coast defence by grubbering though the line and scoring himself.

The Sharks sealed the result with a Luke Douglas try with 10 minutes remaining.

The Gold Coast scored one final try off what appeared to be a forward pass as time expired for the 30-16 final scoreline.

Match Details
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 30 defeated Gold Coast Titans 16
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 25 - Saturday August 28, 2010 5:30pm
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Jason Robinson and Chris James
Video Referee: Bill Harrigan
Touch Judges: Ricky McFarlane and Luke Potter
Crowd: 10,116
Halftime: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 18 Gold Coast Titans 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Paul Gallen (1 Try)
2 Points - Luke Covell (1 Try, 5 Conversions)
1 Point - Bodene Thompson (2 Tries)

CRONULLA SUTHERLAND SHARKS (30)
Tries: Luke Covell, Paul Gallen, Luke Douglas, Nathan Gardner, Tim Smith
Field Goals: Trent Barrett (0/1)
Conversions: Luke Covell (5/5)

GOLD COAST TITANS (16)
Tries: Jordan Atkins, Bodene Thompson (2)
Conversions: Scott Prince (2/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary The Titans have won an exciting Toyota Cup clash 28-21.
Team lists: Minimal changes for the Sharks - Tautai starts ahead of Millington who drops to the bench. Big news for the Titans - Preston Campbell and Anthony Laffranchi are out. Zillman moves to fullback while Atkins comes onto the wing. Greg Bird will start in the second row and Sam Tagataese moves onto the bench.
Both teams taking to the field now.
1 min: Underway in Cronulla! The Sharks will get first use of the ball.
4 min: Sharks have a fairly stiff breeze at their backs in the first half. Gallen earns his side their first penalty of the night.
5 min: Sharks lose the ball on attack.
6 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
The Titans spin the ball wide on halfway and it goes loose and bounces perfectly for Covell who outpaces the cover defence to score. Conversion attempt by Luke Covell successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 6-0
9 min: Sharks on attack off another penalty - Toopi penalised twice for stripping tonight.
10 min: Sharks with a poor option late in the count and Tautai knocks on.
12 min: Titans give away yet another penalty to let the Sharks out of their own end.
14 min: Sharks cross the line again, Tupou has a try denied for a forward pass however.
16 min: Prince gets to put in a rare attacking kick, however it bounces dead and almost out of the stadium.
17 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Sharks score a pearler! Barrett passes wide to Ferguson who goes back infield and passes to Gallen who runs sideways, then beats several defenders and offloads to Gardner to score. Conversion attempt by Luke Covell successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 12-0
21 min: Titans get their first penalty their first real attacking chance.
22 min: Pomeroy tackles Atkins high and the Gold Coast will get more tackles on the Sharks line.
23 min: Kevin Gordon claims a try in the corner, but the touch judge makes a great call in saying he was in touch.
24 min: Titans help the Sharks out of their end with yet another penalty.
25 min: Steve Michaels ruled to have knocked on defending a kick, Sharks on attack.
26 min: Mat Rogers makes a one on one strip and will work the ball out of their end.
28 min: The Titans on attack off a penalty.
29 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Rogers kicks across field and Bodene Thompson comes down with it to score. Conversion attempt by Scott Prince successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 12-6
35 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Gallen runs from dummy half and has no trouble scoring. Conversion attempt by Luke Covell successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 18-6
40 min: Halftime, and the Sharks take a well deserved 18-6 lead into the break. Will they be able to keep up this form running into the wind in the second half?
40 min: Back underway in Cronulla!
46 min: Both teams have had decent attacking opportunities this half, but have been held out. Titans still not fully awake.
47 min: Gold Coast knock on contesting an attacking bomb.
49 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Great team try by the Titans! Bodene Thompson bats down a bomb, the Titans keep it alive and several sets of hands later Bodene Thompson comes down with another bomb to score in the corner! Conversion attempt by Scott Prince successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 18-12
54 min: Titans a totally different team from the first half, definitely getting an upper hand in possession and territory.
54 min: Titans a totally different team from the first half, definitely getting an upper hand in possession and territory.
55 min: Sharks get a penalty to get out of their own end.
57 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Tim Smith gets the ball and grubbers through the line for himself to score. Conversion attempt by Luke Covell successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 24-12
61 min: Sharks had the Titans pinned down their end, but give away a penalty to give them a helping hand.
63 min: Greg Bird puts in a poor kick with the Titans on attack.
69 min: TRY
TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Great try. After a break downfield, on the next play Gallen throws a great offload to Douglas who strolls over. Game over. Conversion attempt by Luke Covell successful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 30-12
71 min: Barrett gets caught on the last and grubbers for himself in desperation and picks up a penalty for being taken out chasing the kick.
73 min: Sharks lose the ball.
74 min: Titans penalised on halfway for an obstruction.
75 min: Gardner crosses the line at full tilt but is held up by the Titans.
75 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Field goal attempt by Trent Barrett is horrible, Luke Douglas dives on the ball to claim a try but was offside.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 30-12
77 min: Titans throw another intercept and Luke Covell comes up with it. Kevin Gordon makes a howler of an error taking the ball back after a Sharks chip kick.
78 min: CROWD - 10,116
80 min: Titans make a break but Gordon is wrapped up.
80 min: Titans make a break but Gordon is wrapped up.
80 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Scored by Jordan Atkins, seemingly off a forward pass. Conversion attempt by Scott Prince unsuccessful.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 30-16
80 min: Fulltime, and Cronulla upset the Gold Coast 30-16.