Solid start for the Eels as they complete their opening set of the game and then force and error from the Sharks as they work it out.
Izzard turns Twal back to the posts before Doolan goes to Amone who then goes out the back to Bevan French. French picks out the gaping hole for Mason Cerruto who strolls in but the Sharks are challenging it!
The challenge is successful. No replays up on the screen at the stadium but obstruction would be the call I believe.
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Some sharp work from dummy half carries the Sharks deep into our half but on the last French is impeccably placed to clean up their attacking kick.
Parra ruck it out before Alex Twal bursts through the middle! Monster carry as he shrugs past defenders and links up with Zach Dockar-Clay to send the livewire #9 under the posts! They aren't taking that one away.
The conversion is successful.
Parra lead Cronulla 6-0
No game clock up currently.
Raeli, Gafa and Elkander take the early runs before Amone has a sortie down the right edge. Doolan takes a dart down the right edge short side to bring up the last and Izzard then bombs to the centrefield to complete the set.
Amone puts on a solid shot early in the defensive set and Parra put together a solid set without the ball in general, pinning Cronulla in their own half.
French is again on point for the kick return and on the following tackle the Sharks are pinged for infringing the 10m mark.
Parra are back on the attack.
Elkander and Twal take the first runs before ZDC has a dangerous run from the ruck and is pulled down centimetres short - pucks up a penalty as well!
Raeli up first from the restart. Amone tries to barrell over before Izzard takes it down the left where Oloapu is well taken. Twal takes the ball back to the posts and is again just stopped short and two tackles later Doolan gets Gafa over with a pin point grubber!
The conversion is successful from the sideline.
Parra lead the Sharks 12-0
Raeli has the first carry this set but on the second Twal and Doolan have a breakdown in communication and the ball bounces off Twal's chest straight to the Sharks who immediately spin it wide to their right and score.
Just bizarre, bizarre and poor stuff from Parra there. Talk about gifting a try.
The conversion is successful.
Cronulla trail 6-12
Cronulla ruck it up to halfway on the last and then go two passes wide before kicking it to French again who quickly links up with Miski. Aaron Pene has a carry I believe next but on the third Mason Cerruto comes up with an error in the ruck. Parra making it hard for themselves here.
Urgh, soft defence from Izzard there as he is palmed off initially as the Sharks play out a right edge shift but the cover defence is good enough to bring the runner down and fortuitously the Sharks come up with an error of their own from that play.
Fuimaono provides a good run to get us on the front foot and Amone builds from it with a second carry and holy shit Bevan French! A swirling bomb is sent up by Doolan I believe and French races through to not only leap up and take the ball cleanly but then throws a perfect pass to Gafa who strolls in! Just a ridiculous play from French there!
The conversion is successful.
Parra get back the 12 point lead at 18-6
Completed set for the Eels as Izzard hits the bomb. This time the Sharks bring it in. Cronulla are again well contained and French picks off their kick with ease before flyng back for a strong return. Elkander has a ranging run from left to right and gets a second carry later in the set to bring up the last where ZDC looks for bomb. The kick is terrible and barely travels forwards. Parra catch it and try to kick ahead via Doolan I believe but the Sharks dive on the ball as it gets trapped in the defensive line,
Ordinary set from the Sharks though. They go absolutely no where and complete the set with a kick as poor as Dockar-Clays.
Parra then pick up another penalty.
Bustling work from Twal continues as he steams forwards. Doolan runs it down the right before Raeli takes it back to the posts and Doolan I think it is sums the situation up perfectly as he rolls it in on the following tackle for a repeat set.
Stowers is on and has a powerful run to the posts where he is barely pulled up. We shift it right on the next play looking to give French a chance to ball play. He uses Cerruto but the Sharks marked up well on him and tackle him before the line. ZDC gets white line fever on the last and tries to barge over but it comfortably held up.
Cronulla look to be lifted by a big carry from one of their book ends but a good tackle from Raeli it looks like has dislodged the ball!
Ref calls knock on but Cronulla decide to challenge the call and they have found a strip in there so we come back to play with a penalty to the visitors.
Haha, oh Cronulla...losing the ball cold early in that gift set. French scoops it up and gets a run before Twal plows into the defensive line and offloads to Raeli! Brandon churns downfield and has support but doesn't use it and then he throws the ball away! Oh no, chance gone begging!
Cronulla end up counter attacking in that following set down our left edge and ultimately force a line drop out but the Eels are challenging the call.
Parra claim that Miski didn't play at the ball as the Sharks threw it straight at him but the video ref doesn't concur.
Line drop out.
ZDC sends it out to just short of halfway and the Sharks bring it back with a good carry. They go down our right edge for what feels like the first time of the game but are repelled. On the next play there is a loose pass that gets contested from both teams but the ref rules in favour of the Sharks.
Scrum in front of the posts.
Parra concede a penalty on the first tackle for holding down in the ruck.
Cronulla focus purely on short balls around the ruck and although Parra defend strongly initially, eventually the Eels crack as the #17 for the Sharks barrels over.
The conversion is successful.
Cronulla trail 12-18
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