The Melbourne Storm have survived a late scare to post a 36-22 victory over a gallant Cronulla Sharks in the NYC clash at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
http://sharks.com.au/?s=article-display&id=23382
Sharks fall short in NYC
Steve Orme
13/03/2010 7:20:40 PM
The Melbourne Storm have survived a late scare to post a 36-22 victory over a gallant Cronulla Sharks in the NYC clash at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
Having made the most of a howling southerly to lead 22-0 into the break, the Storm were made to earn their victory as the Sharks trimmed the deficit to 10 points midway through the second half.
But after a few nervous moments, the visitors steadied with consecutive four-pointers to seal a hard-earned eight-tries-to-four victory.
Melbourne wasted little time opening their 2010 account, half-back Jordan Meads crashing over in the second minute after an attacking raid that began on their own try line.
The visitors were denied a second try five minutes later when referee Adam Gee spotted a forward pass, but their was no stopping rampaging prop Jordan McLean who crashed over from close range on 11 minutes.
The onslaught continued with Justin O'Neill and Slade Griffin both crossing in the opening quarter to open up a commanding 18-0 advantage after 20 minutes.
Having been denied an early four-pointer, O'Neill finally posted his first try of the season after some slick passing from his inside men.
The Sharks were powerless to stop the Storm's fourth try as Jerome delivered a pin-point cross-kick for Eddie Faamausili who brilliantly batted the ball down to Griffin to cruise over untouched.
Having been forced to defend for the opening quarter of the contest, the Sharks finally found their way into the attacking 20 only to cough up possession early in the tackle count as the heavens opened.
The Sharks dominated the final 15 minutes of the half but it was the Storm who had the final say when Pita Maile burst through some tired defence to send the visitors into the sheds with a 22-0 advantage.
With a strong southerly at their backs, the Sharks made a dream start when interchange forward Adam Goode scored on the back of a 40-20 kick from Chad Townsend's 40-20 kick putting his side deep on attack.
The Storm responded swiftly when Jerome found Kirisome Auva'a unmarked with a well-weighted kick to reclaim a commanding 20-point buffer with half an hour remaining.
But just as the visitors looked set for a comfortable victory, the hosts hit back with two tries in the space of three minutes to breathe new life into the contest.
Full-back Nathan Gardner was first to strike on the hour before lock Tyrone Peachey crossed to cut the lead to 10 points with 17 minutes remaining.
But it wasn't to be for the hosts as the Storm steadied with tries to Blake Leary and Faamausili to put the result beyond doubt.
Melbourne Storm 36
Tries: Meads, McLean, O'Neil, Griffin, Maile, Auva'a, Leary, Faamausili,
Goals: Jerome, Leary,
Cronulla Sharks 22
Tries: Goode, Gardner, Peachey, Rokoqo,
Goals: Townsend 3,
