RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS:
Round 13 :
Sharks hold off 12 Dragons at Oki Jubilee
Written by: Michael Edgar
June 11th 2007 09:24 PM

LINK TO MATCH PICS - CLICK HERE

Match summary
The Cronulla Sutherland Sharks have defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 20-16 at Oki Jubilee Oval this evening.

In a hard fought match between the fiercest of local rivals, no quarter was given by either side and this was highlighted by the sending off of Adam Peek, who elbowed Adam Dykes in the head and deserved to be sent from the field for what looked like a deliberate elbow from Peek.

The sending off galvanized the Dragons and they fought back from a 20-10 deficit to score and narrow the gap to four points and had a chance to hit the front late in the match through winger Chase Stanley who caught a cross field bomb but could not get the ball down in time to be awarded the try.

For the Sharks, Paul Gallen had an inspirational game in both attack and defence and was by far the best player on the field. He was well supported by Reece Williams and Adam Dykes and the win propels the Sharks up the ladder into fifth spot while the Drgaons continue to languish at the wrong end of the ladder but with the way the competition is at the moment, they are only two wins out of the top eight and there is plenty of time for them to make a run towards the finals.

The Dragons went down fighting and players including Ben Creagh, Jamie Soward, Simon Woolford and Jason Ryles all had good games on a losing side and whilst the loss hurts, the Dragons can atone against the Eels this weekend and get their season back on track.

Match Details
Round 13 - Full Time :: June 11th, 2007 07:00 PM
Venue: Oki Jubilee Stadium
Crowd: 12,455
Referee: Tony Archer

St George Illawarra Dragons 16
Tries: Richard Williams, Ben Creagh, Ben Ellis
Goals: Jamie Soward (2/3)
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 20
Tries: Mitch Brown, David Simmons, Luke Covell
Goals: Luke Covell (4/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Paul Gallen (Sharks)
2 Points: Jamie Soward (Dragons)
1 Point: Reece Williams (Sharks)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
1 min: We are underway at Oki Jubilee!

3 min: Physical opening to the match with both sides coming up with some big hits.

4 min: Possible try to the Dragons...

4 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Jamie Soward drops in a nice kick that rebounds off Ben Pomeroy and Richie Williams is there to fall on the ball and get the Dragons on the board early. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 4-0

8 min: Sharks going nowhere at the moment through some good Dragons defence.

12 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons are in again and the Sharks are shellshocked at the moment. Creagh scored adjacent to the posts after another Soward kick rebounds off a Sharks player and the Dragons are in again. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-0

16 min: Dragons settling into a good rhythmn at the moment and the Sharks are yet to show much in the way of attack but a forward pass by St George Illawarra in their own half gives the Sharks a chance to get their first points of the night.

19 min: TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
The Sharks are over out wide through Mitch Brown. A imple catch and pass movement down the short side caught the Dragons defence napping and the SHarks made it look easy. Conversion attempt by Luke Covell successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-6

25 min: Dragons force a goal line drop out and thier short kicking game has been first class tonight, yielding two tries and a drop out.

29 min: Sharks come up with the ball inside the Dragons red zone and have a chance to take the lead after the game had been all Dragons so far.

29 min: TRY Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Amazingly, the Sharks are in the lead with R