Sharks fall to Cowboys in extra time finals football

IN a victory that will go down as one of the most courageous in NRL history, a Michael Morgan field goal in extra time has bundled reigning premiers Cronulla out of the 2017 finals race.

The Sharks celebrate Chad Townsend’s opening try of the match.

COME the hour, come the man.

In a victory that will go down as one of the most courageous in NRL history, a Michael Morgan field goal in extra time has bundled reigning premiers Cronulla out of the 2017 finals race.

The Sharks looked to be cruising to victory when they led 14-6 midway through the second half but like they have done all season the Cowboys simply refused to surrender.

After finishing regular time locked at 14-all, the Cowboys finally claimed a 15-14 lead when Morgan nailed a field goal in the final play of the first half of extra time.

From there they held on for their lives to end the Sharks’ hopes in a match full of drama and controversy.

Michael Morgan kicks a field goal to win the final.

The Cowboys will now meet Parramatta this Saturday at ANZ Stadium in another elimination shootout to decide who plays the Sydney Roosters for a spot in the grand final.

Playing without co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott for pretty much the entire season, the Cowboys were absolutely courageous and Morgan inspirational.

But in a dramatic finish to the first weekend of the 2017 finals series, the NRL’s under fire officials came under more scrutiny for a series of questionable calls that impacted both teams.

James Maloney was sensationally sent to the sin bin late in the first half while two massive calls went against the Cowboys that directly led to Cronulla tries.

The opening one to Chad Townsend came after Antonio Winterstein appeared to ground the ball in-goal despite losing possession.

The Sharks celebrate Chad Townsend’s opening try of the match.

Then midway through the second half, with the Sharks leading 8-6, Ricky Leutele milked a last tackle penalty.

From the next set Jack Bird cleaned up a Townsend grubber to push the lead out to 14-6.

The Cowboys bravely fought back when Jason Taumalolo somehow bulldozed through a swarm of Sharks for a crucial try to make it 14-12 and set up a thrilling finish.

The Cowboys then had their own luck when Matt Prior was pinged for a strip penalty that gave Ethan Lowe the chance to level the scores at 14-14 and push the match into extra time.

The Sharks led 8-2 at the break but down a man after Maloney was marched to the bin.

Referee Ashley Klein rightly ruled Maloney took out Ethan Lowe chasing through on a Michael Morgan kick on a try scoring opportunity.

Kyle Feldt gets the Cowboys away with their first try.

It left the Sharks a man down for basically the first 10 minutes after the break.

After a first half where the Sharks dominated field position, Lowe’s late penalty conversion meant they went to the break only trailing 8-2.

What would have heartened the Cowboys further was that Cronulla’s only try in the opening 40 minutes came after Winterstein’s controversial fumble.

It followed a tremendous kick chase from Jack Bird and Luke Lewis, with Townsend on the spot to pick up the points.

In Maloney’s absence the Cowboys let two solid chances slip before they finally broke the Sharks’ defence.

Assistant referee Ashley Klein sends James Maloney to the sin bin in the shadows of half time.

Down the same side of the field Maloney would have been defending, Morgan threw a terrific cut out ball that delivered Kyle Feldt a vital touchdown.

The Sharks had their only luck when Leutele appeared to lose the ball only for the officials to rule Ben Hampton was responsible.

But Taumalolo’s try followed by Lowe’s penalty conversion set up a memorable finish.

Morgan has come of age this year in Thurston’s absence.

While hardly anyone gave them a hope of beating the Sharks, they never stopped backing themselves to overcome any obstacle that has been put in front of them.