Wests edge out Sharks in a tight Tigers affair

An early penalty offered Cronulla the opportunity to take first points after Cory Paterson was pinged for holding down Luke Lewis in front of the uprights. Michael Gordon took up the offer and converted the penalty into points in the 6th minute.  

A succession of penalties then helped the Wests Tigers gain some field position, but it did not help them crack the strong Cronulla defence. The Sharks managed to withhold the onslaught until the 23rd minute, when a video referee decision awarded David Nofoaluma the first try of the match. Pat Richards failed to convert the try from the sideline but more than made up for this error when he scored in the opposite corner minutes later. With the try converted by Richards, Wests were leading 10-2 with 12 minutes left in the half. 

Two penalties to Cronulla helped them to regain some field position, and soon after Sam Tagataese pushed through Wests' defence to cross the line. Michael Gordon converted to bring Cronulla back within two points.

It appeared that Pat Richards had scored his second try of the night after racing 90 metres down the field in the 35th minute. However, the video referee reflected on the play, and it appeared that Chris Lawrence had knocked the ball out of a Cronulla player's hands before Richards gained possession. Thus, the try was disallowed.

The first half ended with an unsuccessful penalty goal attempt from Michael Gordon on the siren, which fell just shy of the posts. Wests took first half honours, with the Tigers up 10-8 at half time.

The second half started with a flurry of tries with Cronulla scoring in the 47th minute. A great pass from Todd Carney put Paul Gallen through a gap, and there was nothing stopping the captain from crossed the line. Minutes later, Gallen was involved in another try for Cronulla, putting Michael Gordon through a hole in the Wests' defence to score back to back tries for the Sharks. Gordon converted both tries, and Cronulla looked to have regained command of the match with a lead of 20-10. 

Soon after, Cory Paterson scored under the posts, after a well directed pass from Luke Brooks let him stroll through the Cronulla defence. Once again the crowd witnessed back to back tries, this time through Chris Lawrence after Robbie Farah and Luke Brooks helped break open the line. Pat Richards converted both tries to put Wests in front 22-20 with 20 minutes remaining.

While both teams had plenty of opportunities in the final quarter of the game, neither had enough to break the stalemate of each other's solid defence and Wests held on to their two point lead. Corey Paterson was a stand out for the Tigers, both in attack and defence. Farah and Brooks were also very commanding, helping Wests gain a lot of field position and momentum throughout the night. Paul Gallen was almost faultless, and stood out for the Sharks despite the loss.

3 points - Cory Paterson

2 points - Luke Brooks 

1 point - Paul Gallen

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (20)
Tries: Michael Gordon, Sam Tagataese, Paul Gallen
Field Goals:
Conversions: Michael Gordon (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (1/2)

WESTS TIGERS (22)
Tries: David Nofoaluma, Pat Richards, Cory Paterson, Chris Lawrence
Field Goals:
Conversions: Pat Richards (3/4)
Penalty Goals:

Welcome to Remondis Stadium for the clash between the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers. Kick off is moments away.

Teams are on the field and the Sharks will kick off in the first half. Wests will run to the left hand side of your screen.

A minute silence for the passing of Reg Gasnier.

2: Brooks' puts a kick in to end the first set. Cronulla bring it back to the 20m line.

2: Sharks also complete their first set without error

4: Sharks charge down Wests kick - ruling is that it wasn't played at by Cronulla. Cronulla have the ball with the change over on halfway.

5: PENALTY SHARKS - Paterson penalised for holding Lewis down a bit too long. Cronulla going for the 2 points, 30m out and right infront of the uprights.

6: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
A successful kick to put Sharks infront

7: PENALTY WESTS - Cronulla way offside

8: PENALTY WESTS - Offside again!

8: PENALTY WESTS - Hand on the ball

9: Blair offloads and Farah manages the bat the ball back. Wests very close to goal line!

11: Bit of mix up and push and shove during the final tackle. Brooks can't get to his kick and loses the ball into Beau Ryan's arms. He has gone down injured.

11: Ryan is up and plays the ball but in some discomfort.

13: After a few sets, Gordon gets back to the 30m line

13: PENALTY CRONULLA - Wests offside and a huge kick gets them to 30m out from the goal line

14: Wade Graham charges through on the final kick to keep Wests near the goal line.

15: Wests kick the ball very deep and it rolls over the touch line. Scrum to Cronulla 5m out.

17: Robson can't get the kick in on the final tackle. Change over to Wests

18: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Chris Lawrence makes an unforced error.
After a big hit from Lewis, Lawrence can't control the ball.

19: Carney puts up a huge cross field kick and Wests begin their set on the 20m

20: PENALTY WESTS - Graham is penalised for a bit of push and shove

21: PENALTY WESTS - Looks like Paterson dropped the ball but referee penalise for a hand on the ball

22: VIDEO REFEREE - POSSIBLE TRY WESTS. Referee says try. Checking obstruction.

23: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by David Nofoaluma. Kick to come.
TRY! Nofoaluma scores in the corner after a great set move.

23: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richard's kick is wide of the uprights.

23: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jonathan Wright makes an unforced error.
Ryan makes a great run down the field. A quick play the ball and Wright can't hold the ball.

24: Huge kick by Anasta and Gordon takes it beautifully near the uprights.

26: PENALTY WESTS - Cronulla offside

26: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Pat Richards. Kick to come.
Farah to Brooks to Richards who puts it down in the corner!

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards kick comes back around and goes through the uprights!

29: Farah's end of set kick rolls over the dead ball line. 20m restart and 7 tackles to Cronulla.

30: PENALTY CRONULLA - Wests up inside the 10m

31: PENALTY CRONULLA - Blair lifting Robson into a dangerous position. Cronulla are 10m out from the goal line.

31: VIDEO REFEREE SHARKS - Sam Tagataese looks to ground the ball easily but referee wants to check grounding.

31: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Sam Tagataese. Kick to come.
And it's a TRY! Tagataese pushes over the goal line for Cronulla's first try of the night

32: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Easy conversion from right in front!

33: Ooh! Danger with the kick off. Ball over went over the dead ball line after a Cronulla touch!

34: PENALTY CRONULLA - Cronulla charge through after the kick and receive a penalty after offside.

35: VIDEO REFEREE WESTS - Wow Pat Richards!! Pat jumps on the loose ball and runs 90m to score - but ooh! Lawrence has touched the ball out of a Cronulla player's hands!

35: NO TRY WESTS - Lawrence knocks on. We will go back to the 10m at the opposite end for a scrum

36: Heighington can see the goal line and wants to cross it, bumping and spinning off many tackles.

36: Feki gets over the goal line but can't get down as Wests push him over the touchline.

38: Anasta kicks the ball cross field. Feki jumps over the pack to get the ball for Cronulla.

39: Carney just short of a 40/20. A scrum forming 25m out.

39: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Cory Paterson makes an unforced error.
Cory pushes through a tackle but can't control the ball.

39: PENALTY CRONULLA - a late first half penalty and Gallen has decided to give Gordon a chance to equal up the scoreline. Gordon will kick from 45m out!

40: UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Michael Gordon unsuccessful.
Gordon's kick falls shy of the uprights.

40: HALF TIME - Wests just have the lead at half time, 10-8 over the Sharks. Join us after half time for more action!

40: Second half is underway!

40: PENALTY CRONULLA - Taupau is penalised and Cronulla will have the first attacking set of this second half.

43: PENALTY WESTS - Gallen is not happy!!

43: Anasta grubber kicks on the last and Feki collects the ball easily

44: PENALTY WESTS - Gallen ran right through an obstructed player in Isaac De Gois and the referees pick it up

45: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Tim Simona makes an unforced error.
Simona can't hold the play during the set move.

45: PENALTY CRONULLA - Gordon held down

47: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Paul Gallen. Kick to come.
Gallen charges through after a pass from Carney

48: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Straight over the black dot!

50: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Michael Gordon. Kick to come.
Back to back tries off back to back sets for Cronulla. Straight up the middle of the field goes Gordon after a fantastic pass by Gallen!

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Michael Gordon successful.
Once again, straight over the black dot for Gordon.

53: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Cory Paterson. Kick to come.
Paterson just strolls through the Cronulla defence after a pass from Brooks.

56: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Easy conversion by Richards

56: Bit of a delay with the kick off as there was no ball! Restart now.

57: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Chris Lawrence. Kick to come.
Another back to back try - this time to Chris Lawrence. Farah helped open up the space for Brooks to break the line and put Lawrence under the posts

58: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
And now Wests are in front!

59: Uh oh. Galloway hits Feki with a suspected chicken wing as well as a knee to the head - surprisingly no penalty.

62: PENALTY CRONULLA - confusion with the scrum and a penalty is given

63: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Jeff Robson makes an unforced error.
Robson can't control the ball while on the run.

64: PENALTY WESTS - Cronulla holding down on the play the ball

64: Paterson is looking for a double with a big dummy play - but Wests can't complete the set.

65: Carney very close to getting a 40/20 but Nofoaluma is about to collect the ball before it goes over the touch line.

66: INJURY: Beau Ryan is down again and in a lot of discomfort

70: Both teams playing end to end footy at the moment. One team will need to step up soon with 10 minutes remaining.

72: PENALTY WESTS - Lewis has stripped the ball

73: CROWD: 15,869

74: Carney's last tackle kick isn't the best as it goes straight to Pat Richards

76: Under 5 minutes remaining and Cronulla get a PENALTY to get them to the halfway line.

77: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Todd Carney makes an unforced error.
Double knock on. Wests scrum feed 10m short of halfway.

78: Not many sets remaining now and Wests have the opportunity to score the winning try.

78: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Michael Gordon makes an unforced error.
Uh oh! Gordon knocks on right infront of posts. Wests can wrap it up now.

79: Cronulla will have ONE SET to go 90m to win the game

80: Robson has kicked directly to the Wests player and that's FULL TIME.

80: FULL TIME: Wests Tigers have held on to beat Cronulla Sharks 22-20