Roosters 18 Sharks 42
Nathan Gardner played one of the finest games of his career as the Sharks upset the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium last night.
The fullback scored arguably the try of the season and kicked seven goals from nine attempts for an 18-point haul as the Sharks demolished their more highly-rated rivals. They were more committed and, after averaging just 12 points a game this season, this was a breakout victory for the strugglers.
The Roosters, in seventh place, started the game as favourites after their convincing away win against the Titans on Monday. Nate Myles was playing his 100th first grade game and Sam Perrett was a late withdrawal after his wife gave birth to a baby earlier in the day.
The Sharks had won only three matches this season and occupied 15th place, ahead only of the Melbourne Storm.
But the Sharks started the strongest on a cold, wet night and they led 14-0 after 16 minutes. Grant Millington scored the early try after a break by Trent Barrett and a chip by John Morris. A few minutes later, Paul Gallen scored after Todd Carney made a mess of a high kick by Tim Smith.
The Roosters scored after 31 minutes, wing Phil Graham finishing off in the corner after Mitchell Pearce dummied and threw a perfect cut-out pass.
But it was a temporary reprieve, the Sharks scoring their third try when Sio Vave barged over from dummy half and Gardner converted for a 22-6 halftime lead. The Sharks had played their best 40 minutes of the season.
The Roosters had a halftime rocket from coach Brian Smith and it had immediate effect when Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored after a chip from Pearce bounced off Gardner's chest and he scooped up the loose ball.
A few minutes later, Gardner, in only his fourth first grade game, gathered a bomb from Braith Anasta five metres from his own line, beat man after man down the left touch, veered infield and outsprinted the cover to score in the right corner after a run of almost 100 metres.
Sharks supporters could hardly believe their eyes when, on the hour, John Morris crashed over for a soft try from dummy half and Gardner's conversion made it 32-12.
It was turning into a rout and a try by right wing Taulima Tautai, and Gardner's boot made it 38-12.
Roosters 18 (P. Graham, S Kenny-Dowall, T. Carney tries; Carney 3 goals) Sharks 42 (G. Millington, P. Gallen, S Vave, N. Gardner, J. Morris, T. Tautai, T. Barrett tries; Gardner 7 goals). Halftime: 22-6.
THE PANTHERS produced another largely clinical, calculated display to maintain their drive towards the playoffs and even premiership contention with a 28-10 win over the Knights.
Newcastle were directionless and went to the break 18-0 down despite the high profile returns of Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen in the halves. Centre Adam MacDougall, hooker Isaac De Gois and wing James McManus also returned.
They came back strongly in the second half with winger Akuila Uate scoring the try of the match in the 42nd minute from a Gidley chip over the top. Newcastle slipped away in the final 10 minutes, courtesy of a series of simple ball-handling errors while the Panthers stayed efficient and effective.
Panthers 28 (G. Cooper, B. Tighe 2, M. Jennings, L. Coote tries, M. Gordon 4 goals) Knights 10 (A. Uate, J. McManus tries, K. Gidley goal). Halftime: 18-0.
