It was tough, it was gritty and it was a performance that typified Cronulla in 2015.
In front of a hostile home crowd at a sold out Belmore Sports Ground, the Sharks grafted their way to an 18-16 win over fellow top eight hopefuls Canterbury.
The win saw Cronulla jump to sixth on the NRL table but the Sharks will be sweating on the fitness of veteran back-rower Luke Lewis who left the field in the 67th minute with a knee injury.
Captain Paul Gallen was also placed on report for a high tackle.
In a game blighted by mistakes and stoppages, Cronulla started brightly and took a 6-0 lead when Michael Gordon raced 30 metres to score under the posts on the back of a Wade Graham bust.
The hosts hit back through Josh Morris with the Sharks taking a 6-4 lead into the break.
But former Bulldog Michael Ennis was to put his stamp on the game just after half-time.
Gallen gave Cronulla an eight-point lead when he crashed over from an Ennis pass from dummy half before Valentine Holmes touched down out wide from a pin-point Ennis kick.
Canterbury were in no mood to surrender in front of their parochial home crowd, as Frank Pritchard strolled over to reduce the margin to 16-10.
Cronulla then all-but sealed the two points with seven minutes remaining.
Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds was placed on report after making contact with the head of Valentine Holmes as the youngster attempted a field goal.
Cronulla received a penalty 10 metres out in front of the posts.
Holmes picked himself up to convert the penalty goal and give the Sharks an 18-10 lead.
The Bulldogs scored a late consolation try through hooker Michael Lichaa.
The win was Cronulla's sixth from their last seven games.
Leader Scoreboard
Cronulla Sharks 18
(Michael Gordon, Paul Gallen, Valentine Holmes tries. Holmes two goals, Gordon goal.)
defeated
Canterbury Bulldogs 16
(Josh Morris, Frank Pritchard, Michael Lichaa tries. Trent Hodkinson two goals.)
at Belmore Sports Ground.
Crowd: 19,005.
Leader man of the match: Michael Ennis.
Sharks' next three: Warriors (away), Cowboys (home), Storm (home).
