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Cronulla's NRLW finals hopes are hanging by a thread after Wests Tigers caused a 12-10 upset at Shark Park. Building off their momentous win against St George Illawarra, the Tigers managed to hold off their hungry hosts, winning only their second game of the season. It was a dramatic Round 9 opener with Cronulla playing 20 minutes of the match with a player down after two sin-bins for dangerous contact. Sharks prop Holli Wheeler was sent packing in the first 10 minutes after a shoulder charge on prop Sarah Togatuki, booking a date with the judiciary and the possibility of a one-match suspension.  The Tigers scored off the back of Wheeler's sin bin with winger Claudia Nielsen going over out wide, with a Losana Latu conversion putting the visitors in front 6-0. Cronulla were not without their chances but a rush to get under the sticks cost them, with both Emma Tonegato and Brooke Anderson failing to ground the ball properly in goal. But it was Sharks hooker Quincy Dodd that caught the Tigers' defence on the back foot, scoring off her own line break for Cronulla's first points. A Tayla Preston conversion locked it up at 6-6 going into the second half. The home side came out firing after the break but a dangerous high tackle on halfback Losana Lutu saw Talei Holmes the next Shark binned and placed on report. Despite a player down, a line break down the left saw captain Tiana Penitani score in the corner and give Cronulla the lead for the first time. But the Tigers managed to claw their way back, taking advantage of three back-to-back penalties as second-rower Brooke Talataina crossed from close range and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale converted for a 12-10 advantage. With time ticking down, Sharks prop Ellie Johnston went over but a late call by the bunker overturned the on-field decision of a try.
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