Sydney South Rabbitohs - Corruna Sharks

CRONULLA SHARKS (+2) TO WIN @ 10/11

This is arguably the match of round 9 of the NRL as the two Sydney teams go head to head in a tightly matched game.

Cronulla are the form team in the division having won six games on thr trot, something they haven't achieved for a decade. They are only five games short of the club record and they won't want that run to end against their fiercest rivals.

The 'Bunnies' fortunes on the pitch are not so great - they did win their last game against the Cowboys 20-16, hanging on at the end but that came a week after a thumping by the Warriors. A win tonight would propel the Bunnies up to 8th and still in touch with the play-offs places; a win for the Sharks would see them get close to second placed Brisbane Broncos who were surprisingly beaten by NZ Warriors yesterday.

Cronulla’s great run has also seen them playing some attractive flowing rugby. Their latest game was a comprehensive defeat of the Raiders in Canberra 44-22.

The key battles are going to be:

Rabbit's resilience against the onslaught of the Sharks’ unrelenting and penetrating attacks. The Sharks sustain the pressure on sides until they crack - only the teams above them have completed more sets of play this season to date.

Keeping Sharks' key players under wraps, like Paul Gallen who relieves the pressure on his team and turns defence into attack with surging runs. And similarly, for the Sharks to exploit weakness down the wings and if Sydney South are to win they will need to get their big defensive tackles in early and defend resolutely. In attack they need to get the ball to Nathan Merritt on the wing - he has a great try-scoring record against the Sharks.

The battles in the middle of the field, the odd slipped tackle or breakaway could be the only margin of difference in this game.

I think this game will be won and lost by the respective defensive qualities of both sides. Most of the games involving these sides have been relatively low scoring affairs so keeping the opponents out is going to be crucial. Both sides are evenly matched in this department. But the Sharks have the edge in attack so I'm going for them to contiue their great run and make it a perfect 7 consecutive wins.

I think the Sharks will make the quicker start and get to a 20mins lead, maintaining it to half-time and then withstanding a retaliatory push from the Bunnies to close the gap during the second half. Therefore I'm going for a small wager on Cronulla/Cronulla double result too.

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1. longtermprofits

Posted on: 05.05.2012, 20.15 CET (Viewed: 165 times)
Match starts on: May 07, 2012

8/10 on Corruna Sharks +2 at 1.91 with Betfred (Asian Handicap)

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