Jack Harbidge reviews the Round 4 clash as the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks looked to extend their winning run to three when hosting Newcastle at PointsBet Stadium…
MATCHDAY RESULTS
SCOREBOARD
MATCH REPORT
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18
Tries: Aiden Tolman (26), Sione Katoa (39), Siosifa Talakai (68), William Kennedy (75)
Goals: Nicholas Hynes 1 (76)
Newcastle Knights 0
Tries: N/A
Goals: N/A
1st Half
On a wind-affected track at PointsBet Stadium, Aiden Tolman marked his 300th appearance in fine style with the opening try of the game, crashing over in the 26th minute to get the hosts on the board. The strong wind, however, hindered Nicho Hynes from converting it to six points with the ensuing conversion.
With the Knights struggling to get back in the game, Cronulla piled on the pressure but to no avail until Sione Katoa made that pressure pay with an exquisite finish in the right-hand corner with under a minute to go. Hynes’ kicking battle with the wind continued and he was unable to stretch his side’s lead to 10 before going in to the sheds at half-time.
HALF-TIME: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8 Newcastle Knights 0
Embed from Getty Images2nd Half
The two sides traded sets for the first part of the second half, with neither able to break the deadlock in the second period before Dominic Young was sent to the sin bin at the 60-minute mark. While the young English prospect was off, the Knights pressed for a closing score and got close off the back of a number of infringements from the Sharks.
Despite the pressure, the visitors couldn’t convert and instead conceded an explosive try from Siosifa Talakai at the back end of the sin bin period. Young returned soon after Hynes failed to convert with his side 12-0 up. The final 10 minutes saw an exchange of errors before William Kennedy crossed for the game-sealing try, off the back of which Hynes got the conversion that had eluded him all game in the tough kicking conditions.
FULL-TIME: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18 Newcastle Knights 0
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Siosifa Talakai (Sharks), 2 pts – Sione Katoa (Sharks), 1 pt – Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
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