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Fri April 25 2008, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10Fri: St.George-Illawarra Dragons 26 d. Sydney Roosters 6 at ANZ Stadium (Sydney), Homebush Bay, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 21,596 Fri April 25 2008, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Fri: Brisbane Broncos 32 d. South Sydney Rabbitohs 18 at Suncorp Stadium, Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane (QLD)Crowd: 34,112 Sat April 26 2008, 5:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 d. Bulldogs 22 at Brookvale Oval, Brookvale, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 15,229 Sat April 26 2008, 7:30PM AEST GMT+10Sat: North Queensland Cowboys 10 l. Melbourne Storm 12 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Kirwan, Townsville (QLD)Crowd: 24,053 Sun April 27 2008, 2:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: Gold Coast Titans 36 d. New Zealand Warriors 24 at Skilled Park, Robina, Gold Coast (QLD)Crowd: 25,310 Sun April 27 2008, 3:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16 l. Wests Tigers 20 at Toyota Park, Woolooware, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 17,241 Parramatta Eels bye Newcastle Knights bye Penrith Panthers bye Canberra Raiders bye
Mon April 28, 2008 Source: www.weststigers.com.auWests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens described the 20-16 victory over Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Stadium as an 'ugly win'. "I don't know how we won that game,'' Sheens said. "We won it, lost it, won it, lost it. We did some silly things. "At the end of the day, sometimes winning ugly is still winning, no-one is going to remember that. It is still two points. And they are two vital points, particular back to back games now for us. Sheens said he was concerned with the performance in the opening 30 minutes. "We used plenty of juice in the first half. Credit to the guys for being able to kick at the back end of the game," Sheens said. "We did plenty of tackling which took plenty out of us. Like last week, we just didn't start well. "It is a concern, although against Canberra three weeks ago, we started really well and finished poorly. "I don't know what is the best way. We start poorly and give me a heart attack and finish off alright. "I know I don't want to start poor against the Broncos on Saturday night (at ANZ Stadium). "Last year, we would lose those close games. We have played some ordinary football this year and lost, and we have played better football, and lost too. "It is just one of those things where we need to put back-to-back halves and be a little more consistent with our go forward and our kicking game in the early parts of the game. That's the secret to it."
News source: www.weststigers.com.au
Mon April 28, 2008 Source: www.sharks.com.au
In what is becoming an all too familiar finish, the Sharks have been beaten on the bell by the Wests Tigers in their round seven clash played at Toyota Stadium.
The Sharks held a narrow two-point lead with the finishing post in sight, only to give up a 76th minute try to Tigers centre Chris Lawrence, a try which saw the all-important two competition points slip from their grasp.
The narrow loss continued a run of close games for the Sharks, with six of their seven matches so far this season decided by four points or less. With this week's result the Sharks remain on eight points with a win-loss record of 4-3.
Paul Gallen was an extremely disappointed Sharks skipper when he addressed the media after the match.
"I'm not sure they won it, I think we lost that game with poor discipline and ball control," Gallen said. "This was a four point game with us having the bye next week which makes the loss especially disappointing."
Shortly following the game however Gallen, along with teammate Greg Bird, had their spirits raised with the announcement of their selection in the Kangaroos team to take on the Kiwis on Friday week.
Both Sharks back-rowers were named in the starting side for Australia, with Bird at lock and Gallen in the second row.
In further representative team news, Ben Pomeroy was chosen to play in the City team, with Brett Kearney on the interchange bench for Country. The City v Country match is scheduled to be played next Friday.
But the news of the four Sharks receiving the rep team selection did little to cover up another heartbreaking loss, this time at the hands of the Tigers.
The Tigers would now officially qualify as the Sharks 'bogey' team, having won the last nine matches contested between the two sides.
The game began with the Sharks having an opportunity to open the scoring via a penalty kick attempt in just the third minute, but on this occasion the usually reliable Luke Covell missed a relatively simple shot at goal, pushing it wide.
The Sharks would however be first to score, with halfback Brett Kimmorley bursting through the Tigers defensive line before finding Brett Kearney in support, the Sharks fullback dashing 20 metres to score under the posts. Covell converted and the Sharks led 6-0 after 18 minutes.
The Sharks were unable to capitalise on further scoring opportunities and the Tigers would make them pay, first Chris Heighington and then Chris Lawrence crossing for tries. After fullback Brett Hodgson missed the two kick attempts, with both bouncing off the uprights, it would be the visitors in front by 8-6 at the half time break.
The opening exchanges of the second half turned into something of an arm wrestle, with neither side able to assert their authority, but it would be the Sharks who would level up, courtesy of a Covell penalty goal after an indiscretion in the play the ball by the Tigers.
In a game which saw a number of lead changes, the Tigers would edge back in front in the 53rd minute with Hodgson scoring a clever individual try, the Tigers skipper converting his own four-pointer to put his side 14-8 ahead.
The Sharks then responded, with Brett Seymour pushing off the would-be tackle of Corey Payne to run 15 metres to touch down close to the posts. Covell kicked the extras and it was all locked up at 14-all.
With just over ten minutes left the Sharks went ahead after a 35-metre Covell penalty goal and appeared to be doing enough to claim a fifth victory of the season, until a dubious penalty to the Tigers enabled their opponents to move down the Sharks end of the field.
After the Sharks had defended desperately for five tackles, a grubber kick was pounced upon by Lawrence, Hodgson converted and the Tigers home were heading home with the last-ditch win.
For the Sharks Gallen was exceptional in his first game in four weeks, continually punching holes in the opposition defence, while his national squad teammate Bird was equally impressive at lock.
At fullback Kearney was a constant menace, while Kimmorley had his best running game all season at half back.
The Sharks now have a week off with the bye, before heading to Townsville the following week to take on the North Queensland Cowboys.
Report source: www.sharks.com.au
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