The Serve

Cronulla breaks the drought

Irony can come in many forms.

It can come when a team which has suffered heartbreak after heartbreak, gives away a 10 point lead with 20 minutes remaining, only to win in golden point.

It can also come when the player clinching victory is the same man deemed more suited to park football only weeks before.

Brett Seymour’s match winner four minutes into the first half of extra time ends a horrific seven game losing streak which saw Cronulla go from top four contenders to 15th. The game had been dominated by the visitors throughout, with Parramatta appearing flat and almost disinterested. The Eels led 6-nil and 12-6, however once Ben Pomeroy scored a converted try four minutes from half time, Parramatta would not see the lead again.

Cronulla appeared safe at 22-12, until Mark Riddell single handedly brought the Eels back form the brink. His tries in the sixtieth and seventy-third minutes, along with a crucial penalty goal to Sharks winger Luke Covell at 22-18, ensured a thrilling finish.

In a helter skelter run to full time, Adam Dykes sprayed a field goal attempt, Tim Smith missed a running shot that almost miraculously went through, while the Sharks botched one last opportunity to shoot for victory before the eighty minutes had expired.

Cronulla had the first chance in extra time, with Mitch Brown leaving an attempt short. The next set saw another long range shot from Smith miss, while Bird missed again shortly after. The winner finally came when Seymour drilled a shot from 35m with thirty seconds remaining before half time, sparking wild scenes. Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart belted the glass of the coaches box in jubilation.

“It’s a lot of weight off our shoulders”, said Seymour, who was recently rewarded for his persistence with a new deal.

“I’ve never seen a team that low on the ladder, yet have a positive for and against”

The loss hasn’t done great damage to Parramatta’s season. The Eels will stay third, but their propensity to drop winnable games must be a concern. This defeat had a similar feel to their recent Monday Night loss to Newcastle.

“We spoke before the game about building pressure. Three times we got down to their end and gave (the ball) up”, said Riddell on Fox Sports.