Full Time
80:00
7:00pm Mon March 28, 2016
Round 4 - Sharks Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal - Crowd: 9155
80

A late flurry from the Storm sees a penalty to the Sharks but the game is over. Cronulla win over Melbourne for the first time in four years.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

78

Melbourne spill it in the middle of the park and that's the game. Cronulla will wind things down over the remaining 90 seconds.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

77

Cronk puts it nice and high for Sosaia Feki but the Sharks' winger is up to the task.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

75

Melbourne receive a penalty inside their own 20m after some niggle from Cronulla.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

74

A Jesse Bromwich offload finds nobody and Luke Lewis picks it up. Sharks out of danger and with time running out - was that the Storm's last real shot? Will take a miracle from here you'd think.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

73

Marika Koroibete with a superb run down the left edge after the Sharks were caught short but a group of Sharks led by Andrew Fifita and Ben Barba hold him up over the line!!!! Sharks handover.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

71

And then Fifita drops it on halfway. Storm with a chance to get back into it yet again.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

70

Storm with it inside Cronulla territory... taken on the full by the Sharks and they sprint back to the 20m and there's 30m made off the first two runs!

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

Footage from the earlier alleged trip that saw Marika Koroibete placed on report:


67

Cronulla with a helpful penalty which puts them inside the Storm 40m.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

65

Fifteen left and the Storm are looking very frustrated without the ball - and lacking in direction with it. It's affecting their discipline.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

63

Time is off as Wade Graham is down, replays showing a little bit of a hit from Cameron Smith. The head knock means Wade is off the field. His teeth look like a concern, no mouthguard?!?!

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

62

SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.

There we are - an eight point lead as a result of that penalty now!

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14-6

61

And there we go.


Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

61

Handbags at five paces as we have an incident - Marika Koroibete has tried to trip Chad Townsend. Will be interesting to see what happens.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

60

Hard to disagree, looking like patchwork the Southern Cross Group pitch...


Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

60

NO TRY. Tonumaipea held up and it's a handover to Cronulla on their own line.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

59

Off to the Bunker here - Young Tonumaipea has crossed. Looks to be held up.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

57

Storm with an attacking set for the first time in the half... and Cronk's trapped with it on the last.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

55

We have a crowd figure in. A bit on the low side unfortunately.


Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

55

Last tackle for Cronulla - and ANOTHER drop-out forced. Geez this pressure needs to turn to points soon!

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

54

Cronulla have another set after the Storm looked to have broken away but are ruled to have knocked on.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

53

Storm forced into defending multiple sets inside their own half. Great footy from the Sharks.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

47

SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.

Easy points on offer for the Sharks off a penalty near the posts. Margin goes to six.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12-6

45

A mix-up between Marika Koroibete and Blake Green on the edge under a Sharks' bomb sees a Storm knock on! Sharks scrum on the Melbourne 10m line. Danger signs here for the visitors.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10-6

43

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.

And just like that Cronulla are in front! Jimmy M converts for the hosts.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10-6

42

TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Scored by Chad Townsend. Kick to come.

Holmes makes up for a disastrous first half to set up Townsend for a try with a break up the middle!

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-6

41

We are back underway for more action at SCGS. Cronulla with it first.

Melbourne Storm 6-4


40

Nothing doing on the last for the Sharks in that final set as we go to the break.

Melbourne Storm 6-4

39

Sharks with the momentum now, Tagataese and Feki link up through the middle, next play Cronk positions himself over the ball but knocks it on in trying to regain possession for his side. Sharks scrum inside the Storm 20m!

Melbourne Storm 6-4

36

Another error from Valentine Holmes - a harder take this time and the Storm have it 30m from the Sharks' line.

Melbourne Storm 6-4

35

Update on Curtis Scott who is out of the contest and likely to miss many weeks after medical staff confirmed a cracked fibula. Ouch.

Melbourne Storm 6-4

32

Try BOMBED. Holmes just has to catch it out wide - and AGAIN he fumbles it over the sideline!

Melbourne Storm 6-4

32

Ennis kicks on the last just inside the Sharks' half and he's hit late by Felise Kaufusi. Penalty Sharks in attacking position!

Melbourne Storm 6-4

29

UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.

Maloney can't convert from the wide position.

Melbourne Storm 6-4

28

TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS: Scored by Ben Barba. Kick to come.

BOOM! Speed on the edges and Benny Barba delivers for the black white and blue! He goes on a 40-metre run to open Cronulla's account.

Melbourne Storm 6-4

27

Big hit from Cronulla halts a Storm attacking raid. Sharks scrum on their own 10m.

Melbourne Storm 6-0

23

Cronulla with a decent attacking chance but the high ball is taken by Young Tonumaipea, but he's landed awkwardly attempting what looks like an AFL mark.

Melbourne Storm 6-0

20

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MELBOURNE STORM: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Easy extras for the magic man. Storm lead by six.

Melbourne Storm 6-0

19

TRY MELBOURNE STORM: Scored by Felise Kaufusi. Kick to come.

Felise Kaufusi finds a gap in the line off a neat Blake Green ball to score the opening try.

Melbourne Storm 4-0

18

Curtis Scott is off injured. Chambers about to come back on after his stint in the bin.

0 all

16

Sharks lose it. Storm go on the attack, McLean looks like he'll score a few plays later but he loses it over the line. Sharks scrum 10m out.

0 all

14

Storm on the attack and a poor last tackle option sees Cronulla come away with it - and they get a penalty too after Kenny Bromwich chose to deliver a few choice words to referee Matt Cecchin.

0 all

12

Sharks use the numbers to the right.... and Valentine Holmes can't grab the last pass. Into touch and Storm scrum.

0 all

10

Storm error inside their own 20m sees Cronulla on the attack again.

0 all

8

SIN BIN: Will Chambers is sent to the sin bin.

Valentine Holmes AWAY! Intercept off a poor Storm cutout pass and Holmes is away! Cronk helps stop him then Chambers holds him down and is given his marching orders. Sharks penalty 20m out.

0 all

7

Storm last tackle kick rolls dead so it's a 20m restart again... but Feki loses it on play 1. Storm scrum 30m out.

0 all

5

A loose pass on the right edge from the Sharks sees the Storm come away with it through Curtis Scott.

0 all

4

Cronulla with a penalty after returning it from a 20 restart forced by a Cooper Cronk downtown kick which rolls dead... just.

0 all

2

Cronulla's first set with the ball is just as impressive - Lewis sets a break up for Maloney then on the last Townsend forces Munster to take it dead. Drop-out Storm.

0 all

1

Brutal defence from Cronulla in the opening set. Kick from the Storm isn't deep either on the last, Cronulla start the set on their own 40m.

0 all

We are underway at SCGS. Melbourne have it first. CSSC's band in fine tune already.


TEAM NEWS: No changes for the home side with Cronulla to run out 1-17. Melbourne meanwhile have lost Kevin Proctor, replaced in the second row by Tohu Harris. Taking Harris' place in the centres is rookie Curtis Scott in jumper 19. Kickoff just on 7:00pm tonight, stay tuned!

Round 4 finishes up at the SCG... Stadium. Southern Cross Group Stadium hosts the last match of the Easter weekend where the Sharks host the Storm. Cronulla have only beaten the Storm once since the start of 2009, so history is against them here today as the Melbourne outfit look set to pass Canterbury and take first place for themselves.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Matt Cecchin, Dave Munro

Touch Judges: Rickey McFarlane, Adam Reid

Video Referee: Ben Galea, Ashley Klein, Bernard Sutton

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (14)
Tries: Ben Barba, Chad Townsend
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (1/2)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (2/2)

MELBOURNE STORM (6)
Tries: Felise Kaufusi
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (1/1)
Penalty Goals: