Cronulla Sharks 13
Cronulla give up a 13-0 lead and Manly's fightback looks headed for golden point until a dramatic injury time winner.
MICHAEL OLDFIELD scored a try in the last play of the game to steal a dramatic win for Manly over Cronulla in Sydney last night.
A stunned Sharks outfit contemplated
the one that got away after they led 13-0 with 25 minutes to play.
A Manly comeback seemed certain to pitch the match into golden point extra time - only for Jamie Lyon to chip ahead. Oldfield gathered and raced 30 metres for the winning try to leave the Sharks players and fans stunned.
Both teams went into the game with two wins and two losses, the Sharks after losing to the Warriors and the Sea Eagles after going down to the Rabbitohs. Manly were the historical favourites after winning 54 of 78 matches against the Sharks, including the last five.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan fielded an unchanged team for the third consecutive week. Antony Watmough and Terence Seu Seu, from the Sea Eagles, had been stood down for disciplinary reasons, while fullback Brett Stewart missed another game because of a hamstring injury.
It was thrust and counter-thrust in a fast-paced start but the Sharks breached the defence first after 17 minutes when wing Matthew Wright scored in the corner after slick build-up work from Kade Snowden.
The Sharks increased their lead to 6-0 four minutes before the break when John Williams kicked a penalty after Nathan Gardner, who was a constant danger from the back, was obstructed as he attempted a quick play-the-ball.
On the stroke of halftime, Wade Graham made it 7-0 when he kicked a field goal from 40 metres.
Cronulla were worth their halftime lead as Manly lacked control at crucial moments, notably when Matai knocked on over the line after eight minutes.
The Sea Eagles tried to play the game at pace but were thwarted at every turn by uncompromising Sharks' defence.
Someone had to crack and, 15 minutes into the half, it was Manly. Snowden broke clear down the middle, sidestepped a tackle and his in-pass enabled the supporting Stuart Flanagan to score between the posts. Williams' conversion made it 13-0.
The Sea Eagles finally got on the board in the 61st minute when, out of nothing, Kevin Foran collected a centre-kick, beat the last tackle and scored handy to the posts, Daly Cherry-Evans' conversion trimming the deficit to seven points.
Five minutes later, Manly, now on a roll, scored through big George Rose and Cherry-Evans' conversion made it a one-point game.
In the last minute, Cherry-Evans kicked a field goal which looked as thought it would send the game into extra time - before Lyons' kick and Oldfield's gather.
Cronulla 13 (M. Wright, S. Flanagan tries, J. Williams 2 goals, W. Graham field goal), Manly 19 (K. Foran, G. Rose, M. Oldfield tries, D. Cherry-Evans 3 goals, field goal). Halftime: Cronulla 7-0.The Penrith Panthers ran away with the match 36-10 against the Canberra Raiders last night.
Winger David Simmons started the rout with two tries in 12 minutes and they led 18-4 at halftime.
The Raiders pulled up to 18-10 with a try to winger Daniel Vidot but Simmons' hat-trick try after 49 minutes signalled the end of the Canberra resistance.
Penrith 36 (D. Simmons 3, T. Burns P. Civoniceva, M. Gordon tries; Gordon 6 goals), Canberra 10 (R. Robinson, D. Vidot tries; J.Croker goal). Halftime: 18-4.
