Dragons upset Warriors in shock win
Report from: Steven Williams
20/03/04

St George Illawarra Dragons have come away from New Zealand with an enterprising 16-10 victory over a shocked Warriors' outfit.

Following a week of turmoil, Saints went into the match without star players Trent Barrett, Mark Gasnier, Luke Bailey, Brett Firman, Jason Ryles, Nathan Long and Henry Perenara - the Warriors starting as red-hot favourites.

Following tries to backs Francis Meli and Henry Fa'afili, all seemed to be sailing well for the Warriors who withstood an enthuisastic St George side and after 30 minutes, were enjoying 10-nil lead and better than 60% possession.

But Saints struck back with a try to centre Matt Cooper to take the score to 10-4. Then on the stroke of half-time, stand-in half-back Mathew Head turned the game upside down with a runaway intercept try against the run of play.

At half time, it was 10-all.

A stunned home crowd then saw the Dragons keep the Warriors scoreless in the second half.

A try to Reece Simmonds and penalty goal to Mark Riddell put Saints further ahead in what was spirited Dragons' victory.

Ericsson Stadium
Referee: Tim Mander
Video Referee: Graeme West
Touch Judges: Matt Cecchin, Darren Gocher

Scorers:
WARRIORS 10 Tries: Meli, Fa'afili Goals: Martin 1/2
DRAGONS 16 Tries: Cooper, Head, Simmonds Goals: Riddell 2/3, Head 0/1

By the clock:
0 min: Great night atmosphere in Auckland as a depleted Saints outifit take on a fired up Warriors side. Kickoff!

3 min: Sustained pressure from Warriors early on. Saints forced into a second line drop out.

6 min: Warriors get a penalty adding to their possession but Saints hold out and then get a relieving penalty.

12 min: NO TRY - Dragons. Tremendous bust up the middle from the Dragons with plenty of players in support. Final receiver Nathan Blacklock with all the work to do and being pulled down next to the posts was unable cleanly ground the ball. A let-off for the Warriors.

14 min: NEWS - Matt Cooper (Dragons) and Ben Hornby (Dragons) on report for lifting. Referee Mander then issues two more penalties and a warning to Saints. Warriors on attack from 10m out but lose the ball over the touchline.

20 min: TRY - Warriors. Winger Francis Meli scores following spot-on bomb from Stacy Jones who is having beaut match. Tony Martin coverts 15m in from touch. Warriors 6-0

25 min: Possession - Warriors 61%

29 min: TRY- Warriors. Henry Fa'afili scores out wide courtesy of an overlap. Some dispute over a possible forward pass but they've been common enough so far and referee Mander isnt about to start pulling them up just yet. Conversion attempt from Martin is unsuccessful. Warriors 10-0

35 min: TRY - Dragons. Matt Cooper scores out wide following a deft cross field kick from Mathew Head. Following some charges up the middle and a good reply. Conversion Mark Riddell is pushed across the face of goal. Warriors 10-4

40 min: TRY - Dragons. Mathew Head snatches an intercept, takes a deep breath and runs 85m with Warriors' cover defenders in hot pursuit. With the Warriors looking the likely scorers just moments earlier, this try is against the run of play. Riddell's conversion 15m in from touch is successful and at half time, the game is suddenly locked up. 10-all

Half time stats:
Possession: Warriors 57%
Line breaks: Dragons 3-1
Tackles: Dragons 158-117
Missed tackles: Warriors 7-4
Completions: Warriors 84% - Dragons 70%

45 min: No change to score. Both sides preferring to grind it out early in the second half. Some handy kicks from both Jones and Head.

52 min: TRY - Dragons. Reece Simmonds scores in corner as Saints choose to run it on the last - Simmonds shrugging off a would be tackler who went too high. Conversion attempt from Head is unsuccessful. Dragons hit the front 14-10

54 min: NEWS - Warriors kick out on the full from the re-start. Shaun Timmins (Dragons) held up over line in the next set of six.

60 min: No change to score. Dragons harrassing the Warriors at every opportunity. Brent Kite (Dragons) a stand out.

69 min: NO TRY - Lincoln Withers (Dragons) ruled off side following a grubber into the in-goal.

73 min: Field goal attempt from Ben Hornby (Dragons) is unsuccessful.

75 min: PENALTY GOAL - Dragons. Riddell puts Saints 6 points in front. Follows a high tackle from Meli on Blacklock. Dragons 16-10

FULL TIME: Dragons 16-10.
Dragons have won in a boiler over.

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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - M Head (Dragons)
2 - B Kite (Dragons)
1 - S Jones (Warriors)
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