Dragons Crush Tigers at Easter Double Header
Report from: Steven Williams
11/04/04

The St George Illawarra Dragons have convincingly defeated Wests Tigers 39-10 in the opening match of the Easter Double Header at Telstra Stadium today.

With fullbacks Ben Hornby and Brett Hodgson exchanging tries, the scores were locked up at 6-all after 28 minutes.

But with the Dragons dominating the ruck, the Tigers found the going tough and following two more tries, Saints held a handy 16-6 lead at half time.

The second half saw the Dragons go up another gear with skipper and five eighth Trent Barrett seemingly having a hand in almost every play.

In what was best described as a professional display, St George ran in four more second half tries and never looked threatened by a lacklustre Wests Tigers attack.

Scorers:
TIGERS 10
Tries: Hodgson 2
Goals: Hodgson 1/3
defeated by
DRAGONS 39
Tries: Hornby 2, Cooper 2, Gasnier, Timmins, Sims
Goals: Riddell 2/3, Head 3/5
Field Goal: Barrett

Telstra Stadium. Referee: Tony Archer

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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - T Barrett (Dragons)
2 - S Timmins (Dragons)
1 - M Head (Dragons)
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By the clock:

0 min: A touch warm for the opening match of the Easter double header. Ground is firm underfoot. Both teams as per the card. Saints running into the sun first half.
Kickoff!

2 min: Penalty goal attempt Dragons. Tigers offside. Mark Riddell misses from 30m out slightly off centre. Kicks it dead. 0-0

5 min: NO TRY. Tigers denied when Nick Graham is ruled offside when following through on a kick. Still 0-0

9 min: Penalty goal attempt Tigers. Dragons offide. Brett Hodgson misses one from right in front. Kicks it dead. 0-0

20 min: NEWS - Robert Miles (Tigers) injured in front of his posts following heavy tackle from Lincoln Withers (Dragons). Miles staying on the field but looking groggy. Saints making some enterprising chip kicks.

22 min: TRY - Dragons. Saints target the flank where Miles is limping and Ben Hornby scores out wide. Miles now carried from the field and Wests Tigers are reshuflling their backline. Conversion Mathew Head successful. Dragons 6-0

28 min: TRY - Tigers. Hodgson scores out wide after the defence hangs off him. Follows repeats sets of six and with the Dragons being repeatedly penalised. Conversion Hodgson successful. 6-all

32 min: TRY - Dragons. Matt Cooper scores, improving his positon to near the posts. Follows repeat set for the Dragons. Nathan Blacklock in broken play creates the extra man and finds Cooper in support. Conversion Head. Dragons 12-6

Tigers struggling and Dragons on the ascendancy.

38 min: TRY - Dragons. Mark Gasnier scores in the corner following cross-field kick from Barrett. Blacklock bats it back in from the sideline and Gasnier is on hand to score. Conversion Head unsuccessful. Dragons 16-6

HALF TIME: Poessession fairly even but St George enjoying greater field position with some classy attacks up the middle of the ruck and some fast play-the-ball. Tigers looking dead on their feet late in the first half and should be doing better with 54% possession and 6-2 penalty count in their favour.

Second half underway...

46 min: TRY - Dragons. Shaun Timmins hits the line on the burst from 30m out and gets around the outside backs to score in the corner. Tigers really battling and already looking spent. Conversion Head unsuccessful. Dragons 20-6

54 min: TRY - Dragons. Hornby scores under posts. Follows a decoy movement involving Head and set up by Trent Barrett. Conversion Head. Dragons 26-6

57 min: FIELD GOAL - Dragons. Trent Barrett makes it a 21 point lead. Dragons 27-6

65 min: TRY - Dragons. The scoreline continues to blow out with Matt Cooper getting a double under the posts. Follows a set move up the middle with Barrett, Head and Hornby all involved. Hornby juggling the ball in mid air. Conversion Riddell. Dragons 33-6

68 min: TRY - Dragons. Front-rower Ashton Sims scores his first try in first grade, barging over under the sticks. Dragons scoring from the kick-off. Conversion Riddell. Dragons 39-6

79 min: TRY - Tigers. Hodgson gets a consolation try for his team. One of the few Tigers players who can hold his head high. Conversion attempt from the sideline is unsuccessful. Dragons 39-10

FULL TIME: A total domination and professional display from Saints who never looked like losing.

Stats:
Completions: Dragons 38-26
Hit ups: Dragons 183-159
Tackles: Tigers 304-263
Mistackles: Tigers 37-20
Line breaks: Dragons 8-4
Errors: Tigers 8-6
Penalties: Tigers 9-4