CRONULLA SHARKS 34 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 12
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Ocean Protect Stadium, Sunday

CRONULLA scored five unanswered second-half tries for a convincing derby victory over tiring St George Illawarra.

The Dragons finally claimed their first win of the season, at the twelfth time of asking, last time out against Brisbane.

And after posting the first points here through a Valentine Holmes penalty on 20 points, they recovered from Ronaldo Mulitalo’s try in the corner to take a 12-6 advantage to the interval.

Setu Tu’s thrilling break led to a Holmes converted try on the next play, then Holmes turned provider for Mathew Feagai two minutes before half-time.

They were good value for that lead too – but Cronulla, disjointed in the first half, found their rhythm in the second.

Briton Nikora charged through a gaping hole in the middle of the St George defence and Braydon Trindall’s second goal of five levelled the scores.

Billy Burns and Niwhai Puru then set up a Will Kennedy breakaway try and the Sharks had unstoppable momentum.

Samuel Stonestreet finished a KL Iro burst down the left, Mulitalo scored a second try off neat passing to the other flank, and Trindall slipped through to finish a third straight victory which moves Cronulla up to sixth.

SHARKS: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Samuel Stonestreet, 4 Mawene Hiroti, 21 KL Iro, 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Niwhai Puru, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 18 Hohepa Puru, 10 Toby Rudolf, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Teig Wilton, 13 Cameron McInnes. Subs: 9 Jayden Berrell, 14 Siosifa Talakai (not used), 15 Billy Burns, 16 Jesse Colquhoun, 17 Thomas Hazelton, 19 Oregon Kaufusi (not used)

Tries: Mulitalo (24, 62), Nikora (47), Kennedy (49), Stonestreet (58), Trindall (75); Goals: Trindall 5/6

DRAGONS: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Setu Tu, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Mathew Feagai, 6 Daniel Atkinson, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 14 Jacob Liddle, 15 Josh Kerr, 17 Blake Lawrie, 20 Tyrell Sloan (not used), 21 Jaydn Su’A, 22 Nathan Lawson (not used)

Tries: Holmes (27), Feagai (38); Goals: Holmes 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 6-2, 6-8, 6-12; 12-12, 18-12, 24-12, 28-12, 34-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Sharks: Will Kennedy; Dragons: Setu Tu

Penalty count: 11-13; Half-time: 6-12; Referee: Liam Kennedy; Attendance: 14,989