2021 NRL Round 11, Sharks 13 Dragons 12 – Report

Jack Harbidge reviews a thrilling Golden Point derby between Cronulla-Sutherland and St George Illawarra. Here’s how the game went.

SCOREBOARD

Player of the Year Points

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3 pts – Chad Townsend (Cronulla Sharks)
2 pts – Max Feagai (St. George Illawarra Dragons)
1 pt – Will Kennedy (Cronulla Sharks)

MATCH REPORT

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1st Half

Cronulla made early pressure tell on the 10-minute mark with Connor Tracey going over down the right wing.

It wasn’t long before the new refereeing directives continued to play their part in this week’s round of games, with Paul Vaughan being sent for 10 minutes after some soft contact on the Sharks’ Will Chambers. Cronulla paid their price too in stopping an impressive Dragons breakaway, with Mawene Hiroti taking his man high.

The Dragons then converted the penalty into points to cut the Cronulla lead to four points on the stroke of half-time.

HALF-TIME: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6 St George Illawarra Dragons 2

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2nd Half

St George Illawarra made Cronulla’s lack of clinical attack pay by levelling up early on in the second half through Max Feagai. The Dragons winger doubled his tally just 10 minutes later after a high contact penalty that saw Josh Dugan sent to the bin. Corey Norman was unable to convert either try as the Dragons led by four points.

The Sharks scored a try of their own, with Will Kennedy going over down the left edge and, with Chad Townsend knocking over the conversion, Cronulla took the lead. The Dragons levelled up with a conversion of another high tackle penalty before the sides traded charged down and missed drop goals for the game to go to Golden Point.

The Sharks looked the most likely to score in the extra period, and did so in the end with Townsend chipping over from 15 metres out.

FULL-TIME: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 13 St George Illawarra Dragons 12 (Golden Point)

Injuries

Cody Ramsey (Dragons) – failed HIA
Jaiyden Hunt (Dragons) – failed HIA
Max Feagai (Dragons) – failed HIA

Match Review Committee

Paul Vaughan (Dragons) – Grade 1 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea $1600, Guilty at Judiciary $2110.
Mawene Hiroti (Sharks) – Grade 2 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban.
Josh Dugan (Sharks) – Grade 2 High Tackle Careless – Early Guilty Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 1 match ban.
Josh Kerr (Dragons) – Grade 1 Shoulder Charge – Early Guilty Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban.
Teig Wilton (Sharks) – Grade 1 Crusher Tackle – Early Guilty Plea 1 match ban, Guilty at Judiciary 2 match ban.

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