Dean Ritchie
From: The Daily Telegraph
June 20, 2010 4:18PM
AN INEXCUSABLE decision not to refer a legitimate try to the video referee cost Cronulla any chance of a win over the Dragons yesterday and hammered a nail into the Sharks' season.
Desperate for a win to keep alive their finals hopes, the Sharks were robbed when referee Tony Archer blundered late in the game over a contentious ruling involving Cronulla forward Paul Gallen.
With 10 minutes remaining and his side behind 12-4 against St George Illawarra, Gallen plunged over from dummy-half to seemingly score a legitimate and vital try.
With the conversion, Cronulla would have been behind by just two points and retaken the momentum.
But Archer failed to direct the decision to video referee Bill Harrigan, instead ruling Gallen was short of the line.
Moments later, Gallen remonstrated with Archer about his failure to refer the try to Harrigan.
But the moment had gone and St George Illawarra went on to win and retain top spot on the premiership ladder.
Gallen was not talking after the game but Sharks CEO Richard Fisk claimed Archer had admitted making an error.
There is question mark over whether the try was a double movement.
"Paul could have scored a fair try," Fisk said. "Without question the referee should have gone upstairs. He made a mistake.
Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart was equally perplexed.
"Gal thought he scored," Stuart said. "It was very close to a try and a crucial decision late in the game.
"It would have changed the temperament of the players. The score would have been 12-10 with 10 minutes to play. There was some footy left.
"It would have got us back in the game. It was a match we needed to win."
A victory yesterday would have pushed Cronulla to 14 competition points and well into the finals hunt. Instead, their season is slipping away.
"Tony said he made a mistake and that he should have had a look," Stuart said.
"That's why he is the best referee. He admitted it. I'm not dirty or critical on him."
Cronulla also received what many thought was a dubious call in the first half when Dragons winger Brett Morris scored a try from a kick.
It appeared that Saints forward Ben Creagh knocked the ball forward in the lead-up.
"I didn't think it touched Creagh," Stuart said. "He might have.
"But we had three players around the ball and we should have caught it. I'm more disappointed we didn't deliver what we do at training."
The Dragons were first-class yesterday: methodical, structured and disciplined. There is a feeling they are cruising and have plenty left in the tank.
Morris's try in the 46th minute gave the visitors a 12-4 lead. After the Gallen no-try, Saints scored two minutes later when rising star Kyle Stanley grabbed his second try.
St George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale crossed in the 76th minute to complete the scoring.
Sharks prop Kade Snowden put his possible call-up to the NSW Blues in jeopardy when his tackle on Jamie Soward was put on report.
"We had no polish in our attack," Stuart said. "It annoys the hell out of me because I know we are better than that.
"And I am disappointed for the players because I know it hurts. Today was an important result for our season."
Cronulla had decent field position, particularly in the first half, but struggled to score points. "We had our chances," Cronulla five-eighth Trent Barrett said.
St George Illawarra 22 (K Stanley 2, B Morris, J Nightingale tries, J Soward 3 goals) Cronulla 4 (I Gordon try) at Toyota Stadium. Referees: Tony Archer, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 16,773.