Match Report

[Sharkie73]

From Fox Sports

Dogs put bite on Sharks
March 20, 2004

Bulldogs 24 Cronulla 20
ANY doubts over whether the embattled NRL club Bulldogs could endure yet another week of off-field turmoil were erased after they held out a spirited Cronulla at the Sydney Showground tonight.

Looking down the barrel of a monumental upset, the Bulldogs dug deep and when winger Willie Tonga crashed over in the left corner with four minutes left the Canterbury outfit had hit the lead for the first time – and didn't look back. The Sharks held the dubious honour of being the only team last weekend not to register a line break after their dour 12-6 NRL opening round loss to an equally unimpressive Wests Tigers while the Bulldogs sent a shudder through the competition with their 48-14 demolition of the Eels.

But tonight the teams looked to have swapped jerseys with Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley orchestrating a 14-12 halftime lead and setting up a 20-12 buffer for the visitors with just over 20 minutes left.

The Bulldogs appeared jaded after another tumultuous week off field in which the first head rolled over the Coffs Harbour sex scandal, with football manager Garry Hughes sacked for failing to enforce the club's code of conduct.

And Bulldogs players Willie Mason and Brent Sherwin were fined – and subsequently appealed – $10,000 and $5,000 respectively for their failure to wear appropriate attire to police interviews while several others had $5000 suspended fines placed on them.

But the Bulldogs showed heart in front of more than 9000 diehard Dogs fans to keep a perfect record for 2004 – just.

"The passes that stuck last weekend didn't tonight. We've got to learn, step back and realise we have to use a different game plan each week, it's not going to work every week," Bulldogs skipper Steve Price said.

"We were probably too flamboyant, we were looking for the miracle pass all the time."

After leading 14-12 at halftime, the Sharks kicked further ahead when pivot Greg Bird crashed over and Kimmorley converted to make it 20-12 in the 59th minute.

But the Dogs fans were in full voice again two minutes later when prop Price charged down a Kimmorley kick and ran 35m to score near the posts, Hazem El Masri converting to make it 20-18.

"That (charge down) was my second ever I have scored from. The last one probably was back in Super League against Halifax at Belmore – it's good to break the (scoring) duck early (in the season)," Price laughed.

Tonga then crushed the Sharks' spirit when he crossed in the left corner after a booming 50m Sherwin kick found touch just 15m out from the Sharks line.

"Always in the back of my mind I believed we could win, but we kept coughing up the ball and were constantly under pressure – and they have a very dangerous No.7," Dogs coach Steve Folkes said.

The only injury concern for Folkes was prop Corey Hughes (sternum) while Sharks coach Stuart Raper doubted whether winger Nathan Merritt (knee) would be fit for the next round.

"It wasn't the desired result. I thought we played very well, it was a big improvement on last week but there is still a lot of room for improvement," Raper said.

"If some of those (referee's) calls went the other way we might have got the win. We're disappointed but we will fight on."
BULLDOGS 24 (B Sherwin W Tonga S Price H Maiava tries, H El Masri 4 goals) bt SHARKS 20 (N Merritt M Rieck G Bird tries, B Kimmorley 4 goals) at Sydney Showground. Referee: T Archer. Crowd: 9149

 

[The Popper]

THE POPPER'S SITUATION REPORT:

POSITIVES:
A 1000% improvement on last week. On that form we would've beaten most teams. Once again a couple of errors cost us dearly. Whilst a couple of Archer's calls were hard to fathom, I think he gave us a fair go. Let's hope we continue the improvement and notch up a few wins.

NEGATIVES:
I've been around a lot longer than Cronulla and I've learned the unhappy fact that it doesn't matter whether you lose by one point or 100, and it doesn't matter if you were unlucky to lose or not - you still lose.
At the moment we are in a similar unhappy position to how we finished last season. Another loss will cement that fact. We need to string a few wins together to have a crack at it. If we don't, losing could become a habit and we'll just fall away. That's a challenge for Stuey.
As vince Lombardi once said:
`Winning isn't everything - it's the ONLY thing'.

 

[MTK]

As vince Lombardi once said:
`Winning isn't everything - it's the ONLY thing'.

I'm not being pedantic, Popper, just have some trivia.

That line actually comes from a John Wayne movie called 'Trouble Along The Way', where Wayne uses the line. But yes, Lombardi borrowed it and made it famous. I wouldn't mind to have Stuey turn into the Lombardi of League.

 

[Generalzod]

This was taken from the Sunday tele:

BULLDOGS coach Steve Folkes admitted his team was lucky to score a last-gasp win over a much improved Cronulla last night.

The Sharks led for virtually the entire game before a late try to new Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga.

That try, just four minutes from the finish, and a couple of questionable penalties that led to it, had Sharks coach Stuart Raper shaking his head in frustration.

And the Bulldogs, after an effortless win over Parramatta last week, were relieved to sneak away with the points.

"Cronulla can feel hard done by," Folkes conceded.

"They led for most of the game, but having said that, we did well to get out of it at the death."

The Sharks were expected to be easy meat for the fancied Bulldogs but put up a spirited performance.

Showing much more enterprise than last week, when they were out-muscled by the Tigers, the Sharks gave a wholehearted display and led 12-0 early.

The Bulldogs whittled the lead down to 14-12 at halftime, but when the Sharks led 20-12 midway through the second half, an upset looked likely.

The telling play came in the final stages, with crafty lock Braith Anasta wriggling out of a couple of tackles before putting Tonga over for his second try in as many games for his new club.

There was little else for the Bulldogs to enthuse about, however.

Their first try came after halfback Brent Sherwin ran 90 metres from a misplaced Sharks grubber kick, while they got back into the game in the second half thanks to a charge-down six-pointer from skipper Steve Price.

"The ball certainly didn't bounce our way but it was a huge improvement on last week," Raper said. "It is always hard when you lose on the bell but I was very happy with the effort. The main problem was the discipline – we gave away too many penalties at crucial stages."

Sharks fullback David Peachey had a mixed game, doing some good things but spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a professional foul.

The Bulldogs' cause wasn't made any easier by an early injury to hooker Corey Hughes after a ferocious hit by Sharks enforcer Danny Nutley.

"He has a sternum injury and it certainly doesn't look good," Folkes said.

BULLDOGS 24 (B Sherwin, H Maiava, S Price, W Tonga tries; H El Masri 4 goals) CRONULLA 20 (M Reick, N Merritt, G Bird tries; B Kimmorley 4 goals). Referee: T Archer. Crowd: 9149.

 

[Generalzod]

Again the commentary on last night game was a lot do be desired, Smith and Daley were totally biased.
Does anybody feel the same way??????