I feel for the players...
UnfortunatelyI spent 40 minutes typing up a match report only to lose it in cyberspace... I had to type it all up again.. death by a thousand swords I'd say... something from Arab folk lore...
Apologies to Sharks supporters for the dry story... you deserved better.. it was afterall a great victory for the shire.
From:
http://www.leagueunlimited-online.com
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The Cronulla Sharks have halted St George Illawarra's semi final charge with a convincing 40-24 victory at Aussie Stadium tonight.
The victory however may have come at a cost with Matthew Johns being forced from the field with a shoulder injury and forward Jason Stevens being placed on report for a head high tackle.
With nothing to lose, both sides launched early attacking raids with the Sharks fullback, David Peachey scoring the 7th minute.
St George centre, Mark Gasnier scored five minutes later and in the 17th minute Jason Ryles scored next to the posts to give Saints a 12-6 lead.
With Sharks' five eighth, Matthew Johns being forced from the field with a shoulder injury, Saints looked to be gaining the ascendancy.
But Cronulla started to control possession and struck back with tries to Phil Bailey (21st min) and Paul Franze (37 min).
In the 39th minute, Sharks prop Jason Stevens was placed on report following a high shot on Dragons' back rower, Nathan Tutt.
At half time, the Sharks had the momentum and held a 18-12 lead.
After the break, the Sharks went further ahead when Matt Bickerstaff scored under the posts after a Brett Kimmorley break from 25 metres out.
More tries to Franze (53rd min) and Paul Mellor (59th min) put the score at 34-12 and with 20 minutes to go, the Dragons looked to be on the receiving end of a hiding.
But Saints gave their supporters a glimmer of hope in the 68th minute with a Trent Barrett inspired try to Lee Hookey which started on the Dragons' 20 metre line.
Five minutes later, Jason Ryles grubbered into the in-goal surprising everyone, including himself, to score just wide of the uprights.
With seven minutes remaining, Cronulla were in front 34-24.
But Sharks winger, Greg Bird snuffed out any faint hope of a Dragons revival when he scored in the 76th minute, Cronulla running out winners 40-24.
This match sees the end of the Dragons 2002 NRL campaign. The Sharks now progress to next weekend where they take on the New Zealand Warrors, the winner of that match earning a spot in the 2002 grand final.
7:30PM, Saturday, 21 September, 2002
Aussie Stadium (SFS)
Referee: W Harrigan
Crowd: 31, 783
<u>Scorers</u>
Dragons 24
Tries: Ryles 2, Gasnier, Hookey
Goals: Clarke 2/2, Riddell 2/2
Sharks 40
Tries: Franze 2, Peachey, P Bailey, Bickerstaff, Mellor, Bird
Goals: Kimmorley 6/7