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| Storm rides out Sharks alert | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 8 2009, 12:22 PM (48 Views) | |
| Warren | Feb 8 2009, 12:22 PM Post #1 |
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Storm rides out Sharks alert By Steve Jancetic August 07, 2007 MELBOURNE star Cooper Cronk landed a field goal in the dying minutes to hand ladder leader Storm a thrilling 17-16 win over the Sharks at Toyota Park last night. Cronk stabbed over the match-winner four minutes from full-time as Storm avoided back-to-back losses for the first time this season, but the Sharks were left fuming as Anthony Watts appeared to be taken out as he attempted to charge down the kick. The decision was sent to the video referee. With Steve Clark ruling in favour of the visitors, the loss extinguishing any hope the Sharks may have had of making the finals. "You're not allowed to have a sleeper in the ruck, and they had a sleeper in the ruck that took one of our players out," Sharks coach Ricky Stuart said of the decision. "But that's the roll of the dice, and we're not getting it at the moment." The Sharks had one last crack at sending the game to extra-time, but Luke Covell's 45-metre field goal attempt into the wind dropped just short and the Sharks slumped to their sixth loss by two points or less this year. "The story of our year really, it just sums it all up, a bee's dick short," Sharks captain Paul Gallen said of Covell's field goal attempt. "We're that close every week, we turn up every week. "A few of (the Storm players) said to me after the game, 'you play like that next week you'll win by 40'." The Sharks were on the verge of a massive upset when they opened a 14-0 first-half lead, but Storm showed why it's regarded as the premiership favourite as it recovered to score three unanswered tries. Storm trailed by just the two points at half-time after scoring twice just before the break, and the leadder leader took the lead for the first time close to the hour mark when Israel Folau proved too big and strong for Gallen and Adam Dykes as he crashed over for a try that gave Melbourne a 16-14 advantage. A grapple tackle penalty against Storm centre Matt King allowed Sharks kicker Covell to lock the score with 11 minutes remaining. Both sides then missed a field goal attempt before Cronk landed the winning one-pointer. Storm produced anything but a polished performance, with the absence of club captain Cameron Smith - rested with wing Steve Turner - proving telling as Melbourne struggled to break the home side's defence. While the Sharks deserve credit for playing with a level of commitment rarely seen during what is now a seven-match losing streak, Storm clearly needs its skipper on deck if it is to challenge for the title. Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he had no regrets about resting Smith - even at 14-0 down in the first half. "Certainly 14-0 down wasn't a great thing for us ... but we learned a few lessons from last week," Bellamy said in reference to his side's upset loss to Sydney Roosters. "I think some people questioned (our gutsiness) last week ... but the way they hung in there and we certainly didn't have Cameron Smith directing us around there. "I'm really happy with our last 10 minutes, I thought we played with a level head there. "We've got confidence in the guys we put in there ... we've got four games to go and I didn't want to rest (Smith) in the last month and I thought tonight was the night." The Sharks went 100 metres to score in the opening set of the match, a Brett Seymour chip and chase followed by another kick over the head of Billy Slater setting up a Henry Perenara try. Covell kicked a penalty to extend the advantage before Storm wing Anthony Quinn was denied a try after spilling the ball over the line. The Sharks showed they meant business as four defenders carried Slater back into his own in-goal, and the prospect of an upset loomed large when Ben Pomeroy pounced on a Gallen grubber for a 14-0 lead three minutes later. But Storm wasn't about to lie down, and it hit back with a double strike in the space of eight minutes before half-time. King scythed through for the first before turning provider as he tapped back a Cronk kick for Ryan Hoffman to scoot over. AAP |
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5:52 PM Jul 13