SYDNEY - The Sydney Roosters pipped the Sharks 16-14 yesterday in an exciting finish to maintain second spot on the National Rugby League, four points behind leaders Brisbane.
The Roosters led 16-10 in the dying stages at the Sydney Football Stadium before Sharks centre Russell Richardson crossed for a try in
the corner.
But winger Mat Rogers, who in the past month has equalled club and broken test points-scoring records, was unable to land the conversion from the sideline.
The fourth-placed Melbourne Storm maintained their unbeaten home record by overwhelming Newcastle in the second half to run out 40-4 winners.
Kangaroos halfback Brett Kimmorley scored a hat-trick of tries as the Storm gained revenge for the worst defeat in their 21/2-year history, the 6-38 loss to the Knights in February.
The Bulldogs climbed into the top eight after soaking up enormous second-half pressure for a 16-12 away win over Penrith.
The visitors led 14-6 after a dominant first half, but in the end it was the boot of former Kiwi Daryl Halligan that proved the difference. He kicked four from four after both teams scored two tries.
In matches on Saturday, the Tigers stayed third after beating the Auckland Warriors 30-4; and North Queensland produced another scoreline that belied their status at the bottom of the table, handing out a 50-4 thrashing to St George Illawarra in Townsville.
The Cowboys, who earlier this season beat the Northern Eagles 50-10 and last week handed Wests Tigers their first loss at Leichhardt Oval, ran in eight tries to one.
For the Dragons, who have been embroiled in headlines last week over the whereabouts of standoff Anthony Mundine, it was their second big defeat of the year, after the 10-70 loss to Melbourne.
Co-skipper and Kiwi prop Craig Smith admitted before the match that he would find it difficult to forgive Mundine, who headed overseas without telling the club.
At Gosford, the Northern Eagles overcame an injury to inspirational skipper Geoff Toovey to come from behind to beat Canberra 18-16.
- NZPA
