NYC Rd 19 Dragons 44 Cronulla 12

by NRL

It began well enough for the Toyota Cup Sharks but in the final wash up they couldn't match their in-form rivals, going down by 44-12 in their round 19 clash at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

The Sharks held their opponents scoreless for the first 30 minutes and they would be first to post points, Reece Davidson scoring, to open his teams' account. Jake Walsh converted and at 6-0 less than 10 minutes out from half time it had appeared the Cronulla side might go to the break with their noses in front.

The Dragons however, had other ideas and the match turned in the next seven minute period, with the home team piling on 14 unanswered points to take a 14-6 lead into the sheds.

Unfortunately for the Sharks the second half began in the same fashion as the first as the Dragons scored at will and almost before the coaches had settled into their seats for the next 40 minutes, the match had slipped from the Sharks grasp.

Three tries in quick succession extended the Dragons lead to 30-6, before a penalty goal took the lead out further as the St George team led 32-6 with 20 minutes of the match remaining.

And they Dragons weren't finished there, a further four pointer, converted from wide out made it 38 to 6, before a Luke Pickerd try in the 75th minute broke the St George sequence of points.

Walsh again converted but it was too little too late for the Sharks at 38-12 behind.

A Dragons try, to centre Charlie Runciman, converted by five eighth Daniel Burke, completed the scoring with St George running out 44-12 winners.

Following a gutsy draw the previous week the loss would have been a disappointing one for coach James Shepherd and his team who now remain two points outside the top eight with six rounds remaining.

And it hardly gets easier for the Sharks, with their next assignment seeing them face the third-placed Raiders in a game to be played at Toyota Stadium next Sunday afternoon.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS - 44
(C Runciman 2, S Clune, N Green, B Phillips, J Hay, T Ryan Tries; D Burke 6/7 Goals)
Defeated
CRONULLA SHARKS - 12
(L Pickerd, R Davidson Tries, J Walsh 2/2 Goals)
At WIN Stadium

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