Cronulla Sharks defeated Penrith Panthers 26-22 at Shark Park.
The Sharks started well when a Josh Dugan grubber kick to the corner found his winger Valentine Holmes. But Penrith replied when they spread the play left. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was on the end of the flowing move.
But Cronulla were to go into the break in front. Scott Sorensen scored his first NRL try, and in great style. Matt Moylan gave the backrower the ball. He broke tackles and sprinted to the line through the middle from 30 metres out.
Penrith had plenty of possession as the half closed but couldn’t get through a strong Sharks outfit.
The Sharks came out flying in the second half, a great kick return, led my Dugan, gained Cronulla the position. Jayden Brailey then fed Jesse Ramien straight through the middle of the ruck.
The Panthers were back within six when Sione Katoa kicked in behind from dummy half for Dylan Edwards. Cronulla stretched their lead when Ramien beat Segeyaro to the latter’s kick which proved to be the decisive try despite a late consolation tries from Isaah Yeo and Viliame Kikau.
Sharks: Dugan, Lee, Ramien, Leutele, Holmes, Moylan, Townsend, Fifita, Brailey, Prior, Lewis, Sorensen, Paulo; Interchanges: Capewell, Segeyaro, Seumanufagai, Dillon
Tries: Holmes, Sorensen, Ramien 2
Goals: Townsend 5
Panthers: Edwards, Watene-Zelezniak, Harawira-Naera, Whare, Crichton, Peachey, Maloney, Merrin, Wallace, Campbell-Gillard, Kikau, Yeo, Fisher-Harris; Interchanges: Katoa, Leota, Tamou, Hetherington
Tries: Watene-Zelezniak, Edwards, Yeo, Kikau
Goals: Maloney 3
Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
