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The Melbourne Storm have survived a late scare to post a 36-22 victory over a gallant Cronulla Sharks in the NYC clash at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

http://sharks.com.au/?s=article-display&id=23382

Sharks fall short in NYC
Steve Orme
13/03/2010 7:20:40 PM

The Melbourne Storm have survived a late scare to post a 36-22 victory over a gallant Cronulla Sharks in the NYC clash at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

Having made the most of a howling southerly to lead 22-0 into the break, the Storm were made to earn their victory as the Sharks trimmed the deficit to 10 points midway through the second half.

But after a few nervous moments, the visitors steadied with consecutive four-pointers to seal a hard-earned eight-tries-to-four victory.

Melbourne wasted little time opening their 2010 account, half-back Jordan Meads crashing over in the second minute after an attacking raid that began on their own try line.

The visitors were denied a second try five minutes later when referee Adam Gee spotted a forward pass, but their was no stopping rampaging prop Jordan McLean who crashed over from close range on 11 minutes.

The onslaught continued with Justin O'Neill and Slade Griffin both crossing in the opening quarter to open up a commanding 18-0 advantage after 20 minutes.

Having been denied an early four-pointer, O'Neill finally posted his first try of the season after some slick passing from his inside men.

The Sharks were powerless to stop the Storm's fourth try as Jerome delivered a pin-point cross-kick for Eddie Faamausili who brilliantly batted the ball down to Griffin to cruise over untouched.

Having been forced to defend for the opening quarter of the contest, the Sharks finally found their way into the attacking 20 only to cough up possession early in the tackle count as the heavens opened.

The Sharks dominated the final 15 minutes of the half but it was the Storm who had the final say when Pita Maile burst through some tired defence to send the visitors into the sheds with a 22-0 advantage.

With a strong southerly at their backs, the Sharks made a dream start when interchange forward Adam Goode scored on the back of a 40-20 kick from Chad Townsend's 40-20 kick putting his side deep on attack.

The Storm responded swiftly when Jerome found Kirisome Auva'a unmarked with a well-weighted kick to reclaim a commanding 20-point buffer with half an hour remaining.

But just as the visitors looked set for a comfortable victory, the hosts hit back with two tries in the space of three minutes to breathe new life into the contest.

Full-back Nathan Gardner was first to strike on the hour before lock Tyrone Peachey crossed to cut the lead to 10 points with 17 minutes remaining.

But it wasn't to be for the hosts as the Storm steadied with tries to Blake Leary and Faamausili to put the result beyond doubt.

Melbourne Storm 36
Tries: Meads, McLean, O'Neil, Griffin, Maile, Auva'a, Leary, Faamausili,
Goals: Jerome, Leary,

Cronulla Sharks 22
Tries: Goode, Gardner, Peachey, Rokoqo,
Goals: Townsend 3,

1. Brayden Williame
2. Justin O'Neill
3. Kirisome Auva'a
4. Slade Griffin
5. Eddie Faamausili
6. Josh Jerome
7. Jordan Meads
8. Jordan McLean
9. Jake Hawkins
10. Kenny Bromwich
11. Rob Rochow (c)
12. Sam Martin
13. Blake Leary

Interchange:
14. Ben Hampton
15. Tohu Harris
16. Pita Maile
17. Bennett Leslie

STORM NYC OUTCLASS KNIGHTS
Matt Miller
newcastleknights.com
20/03/2010 8:00:00 PM
Melbourne Storm have beaten the Newcastle Knights 62-10 in a try scoring bonanza at Energy Australia Stadium in Saturday night's Toyota Cup match. The Storm notched up 13 tries in a dominant display keeping Newcastle scoreless for the whole second half.

The Knights were already in trouble after the first half, trailing an insurmountable 26 point lead following some questionable defence.
However, it was the Storm who started on the back foot when forward Kenny Bromwich spilled the ball on the very first hit-up. The Knights capitalised and Captain Ethan Cook barged over in the fourth minute.

The Knights were soon over again after a Storm player took the ball over the sideline in a clumsy catch attempt. Last week’s player’s player, speedy fullback Neenan Simpson crossing the line in the 13th minute.
The Storm soon replied though with lock forward, Blake Leary charging over in the 16th minute.

The Knights were left short handed in defence soon after and winger Justin O’neill crossed again for the Storm in the corner.

After his earlier heroics, Neenan Simpson, missed a tackle on Storm halfback Jordan Meads who scored under the post and took the lead from the Knights.

With the Knights down by ten, Tyrone Roberts dropped the ball over the line on just the second tackle.

Kenny Bromwich put second rower Sam Martin into space for the visitors to score again.

Reserve forward Tohu Harris scored two successive tries in the 36th and 38th minute to put the Storm into a massive 26 point lead going into the second half.

The mistakes continued for the Knights in the second half with centre Mata’utia fumbling during the play the ball. The Storm got possession with Justin O’Neill soon scoring his second, just the eight minutes into the second half.

O’Neill soon after caught a surprise bomb from prop Tohu Harris to score his third in the 48th minute.

The onslaught continued when centre Slade Griffin sped over the line after another soft defensive effort from Newcastle.

Melbourne rubbing salt in Newcastle’s wounds to score three more times in the final 15 minutes, Leary bagging two more while big Kenny Bromwich scored his first.
Final score 62-10
By Matt Miller



NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS NYC
Tries: Cook, Simpson,
Conversions: Mata’utia 1/2

MELBOURNE STORM NYC
Tries: O’Neill 3, Leary 3, Harris 2, Meads, Auva’a, Martin, Griffin, Bromwich
Conversions: Leary 1/2, Hawkins 2/7, Jerome 2/4,