Todd Carney offloads as Benji Marshall closes in during the NRL round 17 game between Sharks and Tigers. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
HE might be too late for a NSW Origin recall, but Todd Carney rescued Cronulla from a fast-finishing Wests Tigers outfit on Friday night.
| 6 Tries 4 | |
|---|---|
| Wade Graham 9' | James Tedesco 43' |
| Nathan Stapleton 19' | Bodene Thompson 47' |
| Luke Lewis 24' | Tim Simona 54' |
| Andrew Fifita 35' | Tim Simona 64' |
| Jayson Bukuya 61' | |
| Andrew Fifita 76' | |
| 6 Conversions3 | |
| Todd Carney 11' | Benji Marshall 44' |
| Todd Carney 21' | Benji Marshall 55' |
| Todd Carney 25' | Benji Marshall 66' |
| Todd Carney 36' | |
| Todd Carney 63' | |
| Todd Carney 78' | |
The Sharks edged into the top four thanks to their 36-22 victory, with Carney laying on four of the home side's six tries in a leather perfect display.
The remaining brace belonged to prop Andrew Fifita, who celebrated against his former team mates with a 60 metre solo special in the first half before sealing the result with a second try four minutes from the siren.
Their team mates, however, only managed to stay on the job for half the match.
After leading 24-0 at halftime, the Sharks flat-lined to allow Wests within eight points on two separate occasions.
And the Tigers might have snatched an incredible victory had Chris Lawrence not been denied a 70th minute try for obstruction.
Their comeback was in complete contrast to the first 40 minutes, which saw star trio Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall and Aaron Woods all submit below-par performances.
The first half was easily Cronulla's best of 2013 and it was coming from the opening set of six.
Several tremendous charges from Prop Sam Tagataese's typified the home side's hunger, whereas the Tigers looked disinterested six days after toppling premiers Melbourne.
Turn-overs from young Tigers wingers Tim Simona and David Nofoaluma gifted Cronulla ideal field position and they exploited the charity in somewhat fortunate fashion on nine minutes.
Graham benefitted from a Carney grubber, which deflected off Farah's boot and into his arms.
Two errors from replacement Sharks fullback Stewart Mills gave the Tigers a chance to respond, but that was wasted when Marshall threw a pass into touch.
From there Cronulla kicked up a gear, doubling their lead in the 19th minute after Carney again got the better of Farah.
This time the Sharks ace scooped up a poor kick from the Tigers skipper, before racing 50 metres downfield.
The movement appeared over when carney was rounded-up, but he managed to find Nathan Stapleton with a speculative pass under pressure.
The winger did the rest, sprinting over to complete a length-of-the-field classic.
Carney's boot then stepped up, launching a 40-20 on the next set that gave Cronulla an ideal opportunity to go back-to-back.
They did just that, thanks to Carney, who potted a perfect cross field kick into the arms of makeshift centre Luke Lewis to make the scoreline 18-0 after 24 minutes.
But just when it seemed the nightmare couldn't get worse for Wests, Fifita breezed past his former team mates to score a rare front rower's try from beyond halfway.
The NSW Origin star rolled through an enormous gap one off the ruck, rampaging past Blues team mates Woods and Farah en route to a memorable four-pointer.
Down 24-0 at the break, the Tigers emerged from the sheds on a hiding to nothing before the hostile crowd.
But the only blood in the water at the start of the second half belonged to Cronulla.
With the castigations of coach Mick Potter ringing in their ears, the Tigers responded with three unanswered tries in 14 minutes to close the margin to just eight points.
The fight back started in the 43rd minute, when Robbie Farah busted the line and sent James Tedesco over for a soft try.
Four minutes later Marshall atoned for some earlier mistakes, putting Bodene Thompson across with a well-timed ball.
And the Shark alarm was well and truly ringing when Tim Simona collected a kick uncontested - after Stewart Mills slipped over - to send shivers of panic through the Shire.
But they were relieved of any immediate tremors when Marshall failed to find touch from a penalty.
Once again Carney stood tall, throwing a perfect face ball for Jayson Bukuya to crash over and restore some breathing space for his side.
It didn't last long.
Wests regained the kick-off and four tackles later the margin was back to eight after Simona grabbed his second from a slick backline move.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Carney steers Sharks to victory
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/07/carney-steers-sharks-to-victory.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Carney steers Sharks to victory
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Carney steers Sharks to victory
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar