Full Time
80:00
7:50pm Thu July 25, 2019
Round 19 - Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal - Crowd: 6144
80min

FULL TIME - Usually suffering for their poor goal kicking, Cronulla were the beneficiaries tonight, snapping a big losing streak with a 16-14 win.

80min

Coen Hess takes it up and simply drops the ball in the tackle and that'll be it.

79min

Josh Morris almost catches out tired Cowboys defenders but is taken 40 out. Chad Townsend then runs it on the last and the Cowboys have to go 90 to score. Less than 60 seconds to go.

78min

Jason Taumalolo with a charging run and they are 15 out now. Scott Drinkwater falls on the last and the Sharks may have it now. Just under two minutes to go.

76min

This will help. A crusher tackle. Penalty Cowboys.

75min

Blayke Brailey to Bronson Xerri on the last - it almost opens up but he slips over and is tackled. Big job for the Cowboys to score seeing they look tired and are inside their own 20.

74min

Shaun Johnson with a great grubber and he forces a dropout.

73min

Momentum has well and truly turned as Shane Wright comes up with an error 30 out from his own line. After a near-perfect first half with the ball in hand errors are hurting them now.

70min

Conversion: Sharks
Kicked by Shaun Johnson.

Johnson puts Cronulla in front.

Sharks lead Sharks 16 - 14 Cowboys
69min

Try: Sharks
Scored by Bronson Xerri. Kick to come.

Turned back inside to Xerri and the Cowboys players barely even attempt to stop him.

Tied up at Sharks 14 - 14 Cowboys
68min

Shaun Johnson takes it up and plays it short to Briton Nikora who looks certain to score but a great tackle from Jake Clifford saves it.

67min

Shaun Johnson grubbers it through, it may be too deep but Scott Drinkwater won't risk it and takes it dead.

65min

Conversion: Sharks
Kicked by Shaun Johnson.

Johnson sends it through.

Cowboys lead Sharks 10 - 14 Cowboys
64min

Try: Sharks
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.

Johnson takes it up and hits it short to Dugan. Too easy.

Cowboys lead Sharks 8 - 14 Cowboys
64min

Cowboys come up with an error and the Sharks get another chance.

63min

Shaun Johnson with a looping ball over the top to Sosaia Feki who goes over in the corner but it is called forward.

62min

Penalty Sharks and they are 10 out.

61min

Jake Clifford kicks straight to Josh Dugan on the last who takes it up to the 40.

60min

Cronulla spread it left and there's a brief moment that looks promising but they don't execute well and go into touch.

58min

Shaun Johnson puts it into the air and Josh Morris is taken out by Coen Hess. Penalty Sharks. 10 out. Big chance to strike back.

57min

Paul Gallen! A gap opens up under the posts and he surges towards it but seems to have dropped the ball - he reaches out and offloads but loses it.

56min

Murray Taulagi bats down the pass from Cronulla as they shift it right. Full set to come again for the Sharks.

55min

Early ball to Bronson Xerri who finds space on the left and then earns a penalty. Sharks 30 out.

53min

Space on the left edge and Ronaldo Mulitalo soars towards the line but the Cowboys force him into touch. Great strength, in particular from Scott Drinkwater who was the first to hold him.

52min

Jake Clifford's kick is out on the full and Cronulla start their new set on halfway.

49min

40 out on the last here for the visitors and Jake Clifford finds touch 10 out.

48min

Bronson Xerri gets early ball - he almost breaks through, offloads for Chad Townsend and Cronulla are 40 out. They go to the air and the Cowboys have it back.

46min

Second effort from the Sharks and the Cowboys have a chance to push further ahead with a penalty blown. They are 40 out. Jake Clifford with a deft grubber on the last, dangerous here for Cronulla but Josh Dugan goes well to take it under pressure. Sharks ball.

44min

Conversion: Cowboys
Kicked by Jake Clifford.

Straight over from right in front.

Cowboys lead Sharks 4 - 14 Cowboys
44min

Try: Cowboys
Scored by Francis Molo. Kick to come.

Jake Granville kicks, it ricochets around and he toes it ahead again. Molo is there to pounce.

Cowboys lead Sharks 4 - 12 Cowboys
43min

Cowboys with the first chance of the half after getting a relieving penalty.

42min

Just trading sets early as Scott Drinkwater goes above to take the bomb. Cowboys now working it out of their own 20.

41min

Jake Clifford clears it on the last and Cronulla have it on their own 30.

41min

A tough bomb early - Tom Opacic knocks it backwards, Cowboys survive though as Scott Drinkwater has it.

40min

Back for the second half.

40min

HALF TIME - That late try sees the Cowboys lead 8-4 at the break.

40min

Conversion: Cowboys
Attempted by Jake Clifford.

Clifford shanks it.

Cowboys lead Sharks 4 - 8 Cowboys
39min

Try: Cowboys
Scored by Matt Scott. Kick to come.

Granville to Scott who charges up, spins around and scores with six seconds on the clock.

Cowboys lead Sharks 4 - 8 Cowboys
39min

Tough ball to Braden Hamlin-Uele, put under immediate pressure and he drops it. Final chance for the Cowboys 30 out.

37min

Conversion: Sharks
Attempted by Shaun Johnson.

Johnson can't bring it in.

Tied up at Sharks 4 - 4 Cowboys
36min

Try: Sharks
Scored by Ronaldo Mulitalo. Kick to come.

A sweeping play, Tom Opacic comes out to the centre leaving Mulitalo unmarked after his inside men didn't slide and Mulitalo goes over.

Tied up at Sharks 4 - 4 Cowboys
35min

Bronson Xerri saves a terrible end to the set with a lovely grubber that traps Jake Clifford in-goal.

33min

Jake Clifford hurries a kick from inside his own 30, Josh Dugan is onto it and breaks a tackle. He is eventually taken 40 out from the Cowboys line.

33min

Kyle Feldt - just brilliant - takes a tough ball sliding towards the corner and turns around to keep it in the field of play. Hard yards to come for the Cowboys inside their own 10 with Cronulla surging in defence.

30min

Paul Gallen with a great run and Cronulla are 40 out. Shaun Johnson goes to the air but the Cowboys have it back. They are working it out of deep inside their own half but a strong charge from Scott Bolton takes them over their own 40. Jake Clifford then finds touch 15 out. He is certainly demanding the ball more which is great.

29min

Ronaldo Mulitalo now has it after taking the clearing kick and the Sharks are inside their own 20 to begin this set.

29min

Braden Hamlin-Uele almost charges straight over. He is pulled up just short. Then Chad Townsend grubbers through but Kyle Feldt reads it beautifully and storms out into the field of play.

28min

Offside against the Cowboys. Penalty Sharks right in front. They tap.

27min

Chad Townsend tries to grubber through to force a dropout. Josh McGuire plays at it, Josh Dugan falls on it. Six again Sharks 10 out.

25min

Shaun Johnson with another difficult bomb to take. Kyle Feldt goes up too early and Shane Wright cleans it up before being dragged in-goal.

24min

John Asiata takes on the line, shrugs off a tackle and there's a gap but he passes to Josh Morris! Cronulla have it.

23min

Chance here for Cronulla. Aaron Woods with a nice offload to Paul Gallen who finds Bronson Xerri early. He sees space and tries to link with Kurt Capewell but the edge backrower puts it down. Cowboys 40 out.

22min

30 out on the last. Tom Opacic puts it into the air. Josh Dugan takes it well under pressure. Still just the one try to Drinkwater.

21min

Matt Prior with a strong carry up into the Cowboys 20 but the ball comes loose and the Cowboys have it back.

20min

Jake Clifford's kick is too big and Ronaldo Mulitalo takes it in-goal and right up to the 40.

18min

Shaun Johnson with a towering bomb on the last. Chad Townsend takes out Kyle Feldt and denies him any clean attempt at the ball. Penalty.

17min

Jake Clifford kicks it on the last from inside his own 40 and picks out Josh Dugan on the full who takes it up to the 30.

16min

Cronulla spread it right to Sosaia Feki but the Cowboys handle it well and put him into touch.

15min

Another penalty for the Sharks, right in front of the posts. Meanwhile, Briton Nikora is down injured receiving attention for an ankle injury.

14min

Paul Gallen earns a penalty and quickly taps it. Sharks 20 out.

14min

The Cowboys even things up by bombing a try of their own. Jake Clifford grubbers through, Josh Dugan has an air swing as he tries to kick it - Kyle Feldt pounces it but drops it!

13min

Paul Gallen penalised for holding on too long. Jake Clifford finds touch over halfway.

12min

Clearing kick on the last from Jake Clifford and the Sharks are inside their own half. But some strong runs from Paul Gallen and Matt Prior bring them deep inside the Cowboys territory. 20 out on the last - Chad Townsend to the air and Scott Drinkwater is safe under it again.

11min

That was bombed. Shaun Johnson runs on the last, steps back inside and is through! He gives it to Josh Morris who dummies to an unmarked man and goes for the line and is held up!

9min

Jordan McLean with a surging run over halfway. Jason Taumalolo then rolls up to the 30. Big metres through the middle. 20 out on the last. Jake Clifford to the air - Josh Dugan does well to rise above and take it.

8min

Shaun Johnson with another nicely placed kick on the last but Scott Drinkwater once more goes above to take it. Murray Taulagi taken in a crusher tackle and the Cowboys get a relieving penalty.

7min

Kyle Feldt with a strong carry to the 30 before Jake Granville capitalises on a quick play-the-ball to dart up to the 40. Jake Clifford clears it on the last, Ronaldo Mulitalo fumbles it, backwards though. Play on for Cronulla inside their own half.

7min

They are just 30 out on the last. Shaun Johnson goes high on the last and Scott Drinkwater is under it. Cowboys working it out deep inside their own half.

6min

Cowboys just shy of halfway on the last. Jake Clifford with an awkward grubber through the middle on the last. Josh Dugan charges onto it and Cronulla start this set on their own 30.

5min

Conversion: Cowboys
Attempted by Jake Clifford.

He smacks it to the right.

Cowboys lead Sharks 0 - 4 Cowboys
3min

Try: Cowboys
Scored by Scott Drinkwater. Kick to come.

Drinkwater dances across the field and simply forces his way over. Cronulla sliding but no-one commits to the fullback.

Cowboys lead Sharks 0 - 4 Cowboys
2min

John Asiata with a lovely kick to Kyle Feldt on the last. Ronaldo Mulitalo fumbles it forwards and North Queensland have another shot at the Cronulla line.

1min

Josh Dugan with the first error of the night. Cowboys 20 out.

1min

Jake Clifford with the opening kick of the night, finding Sosaia Feki who brings it up past the 30.

Underway at Cronulla. Cowboys with first use of it.

Meanwhile, Javid Bowen is out for the Cowboys, replaced in the centres by Coen Hess. Corey Jensen comes onto the bench.

Matt Prior starts for the Sharks, swapping with Braden Hamlin-Uele in a late change for the home side.

Both sides are desperate to keep their finals hopes alive with the road that much tougher for tonight's loser.

Good evening and welcome to tonight's coverage of the clash between the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Matt Cecchin, Jon Stone

Touch Judges: David Munro, Phil Henderson

Video Referee: Steve Chiddy, Ben Galea

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (16)
Tries: Ronaldo Mulitalo, Josh Dugan, Bronson Xerri
Field Goals:
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (2/3)
Penalty Goals:

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (14)
Tries: Scott Drinkwater, Matt Scott, Francis Molo
Field Goals:
Conversions: Jake Clifford (1/3)
Penalty Goals: