Round 15
Sharks 15 d. Sea Eagles 12

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Sharks edge out Manly to keep top four spot
Sun June 18, 2006
Two tries from second-rower Greg Bird has helped Cronulla edge out Manly in a tough encounter at Toyota Park to keep the Sharks in the top four and keep Manly in 7th position in a match where who won would have been in the top four.

It was a torrid game where two of the leading contenders fought it out with no inch given by both sides. Manly dominated the early stages where Steve Menzies was disallowed an early try due to a forward pass but the second-rower who was filling in at right centre wasn't to be denied in the 19th minute when he crossed for the opening try of the night. Travis Burns converted and added a penalty goal in the 23rd minute to push Manly up to an 8-0 lead.

Bird scored the first of his two tries when he went through the tackles of Menzies and Anthony Watmough in the 30th minute to get Cronulla on the board. Luke Covell converted to bring the Sharks within two points.

Scores were leveled in the 63rd minute when Covell added a penalty goal setting up a tight and tense finish.

Brett Kimmorley had a fine match and left his mark on the match when he put in a great grubber kick with Bird right on the spot to score his second try. Covell added the extras to put Cronulla up by six points.

Cronulla extended their lead in the final moments when Kimmorley landed a crucial drop-goal to push the Sharks seven clear.

Manly got the ball back from the restart and scored a few tackles later with fullback sensation Brett Stewart scoring another try. Chris Hicks couldn't convert from wide out but Manly did have to score again and they had a final set to steal another victory. It wasn't to be this week with the Sharks holding on for the two points.

The only negative to come from the match for Cronulla was a cheekbone fracture suffered by centre Phil Bailey, an injury which could keep him out of action for up to eight weeks.

Sharks coach Stuart Raper after the match said, "It wasn't a night for free flowing football but I am happy the boys stuck at it and managed to come away with the win. Our kicking game and our last tackle options were better than Manly's and that probably decided the match."

Kimmorley had a clear points victory ahead of rival halfback Matt Orford as both players along with Craig Gower are battling for what should be the vacant No.7 New South Wales jersey with the selectors having to bite the bullet and axe Roosters duo Brett Finch and Braith Anasta.

Last year Kimmorley played for NSW in the opening Origin match where in Golden Point he chanced his arm trying to find the numbers outwide only for Matt Bowen to intercept and score. Kimmorley was immediately labeled as a player who can't handle Origin football but few remember that it was Kimmorley who was halfback in the Blues record 3-0 series wash in 2000.

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