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 British
international Adrian Morley has scored a sensational
match-winning try to see the Sydney Roosters
home by 18-14 over a gallant St George Illawarra
Dragons outfit tonight.
Played
in front of an Aussie Stadium crowd of 27,183
people, the match saw both sides play some
tremendous football as the Roosters came back
from a 14-nil deficit to take out the match.
With
a number of their star players missing, the
Dragons opened the scoring after 17 minutes
with a try to winger Nathan Blacklock, playing
in his first NRL match since round 11. The
try coming courtesy of a kick ahead from left
winger Reece Simmonds; Blacklock storming
up the centre of the park to regather and
score.
Saints
then scored ten minutes later with centre
John Carlaw barging over. Carlaw was denied
an opportunity moments earlier after being
tackled in the air, an infringement which
earned Roosters’ centre Ryan Cross 10
minutes in the sin bin.
The
Dragons went further ahead in the 32nd minute
following a Mathew Head penalty goal and at
half time, Saints held a handy 14-0 lead.
With
second rower Craig Fitzgibbon posting 34 first
half tackles, the Roosters finished the first
half strongly and came within a whisker of
scoring on two occasions. Meanwhile hooker
Craig Wing was finding some space with two
first half line breaks. But the more enterprising
Dragons were handling the Roosters with some
classy play, front rower Jason Ryles leading
the way. Half back Mathew Head’s kicking
game also being a feature of the Dragons’
game plan.
The
second half saw both sides throwing the ball
around before the Roosters began to find space
out wide. The turning point of the match came
in the 53rd minute when stand-in Dragons fullback
Clint Greenshields was sin binned for a professional
foul. Moments later, Roosters front rower
Peter Cusack backed up to score within good
range for Fitzgibbon’s conversion. Down
by 14-6, the Roosters lifted a gear and for
a while, Saints went with them.
But
the tiring Dragons defence had no answer to
a flying Anthony Minichiello who chimed into
the backline and scored 15 metres in from
touch. With 20 minutes remaining, the Roosters
continued to hit the line hard before Morley
burst through from 20 metres out, leaving
a number of would-be tacklers in his wake.
Ironically, the last attempted tackle was
from Greenshields, who had just returned from
the sin bin moments earlier.
The
final 15 minutes saw plenty of action as both
sides launched a number of attacking raids.
The Dragons, playing to keep in touch with
the competition front runners, almost pulled
off victory in the dying minutes. Mathew Head
put up two bombs, one which was spilled in
mid-air and over the dead ball line by the
player chasing through.
In
other news, match winner Adrian Morley has
a nervous wait ahead of him after being placed
on report for a high tackle. But replays show
his shoulder, and not his arm, coming into
contact with the head. Meanwhile, the post-match
injury woes continue for the Dragons with
reports that Origin star Shaun Timmins has
a suspected broken cheek bone.
ROOSTERS
18
Tries: Cusack, Minichiello, Morley
Goals: Fitzgibbon 3/3
defeated
DRAGONS 14
Tries: Blacklock, Carlaw
Goals: Head 3/3
Aussie
Stadium. Crowd: 27,183
Referee: Paul Simpkins
Video Referee: Graeme West
Touch Judges: Steve Chiddy, Steve Carrall
By
the clock:
0
min: Players getting ready to coming onto
the field, a fine night at Aussie Stadium.
Round 19 about to kick off....
Kickoff!
5
min: NEWS - Fairly evens with the Roosters
getting 55% posession early on.
15
min: NEWS - No change to score with Roosters
still with their noses slightly in front with
53% possession.
17
min: TRY - Dragons.
Saints looking good in attack. Nathan Blacklock
the scorer in his first match back since last
May. Follows a deft chip over the top from
Reece Simmonds.
Conversion Mathew Head is successful.
Dragons 6-0
24
min: NEWS - Dragons now dominating play just
wide of the ruck with more completions and
the Roosters making an error on the first
tackle. Possession favours Dragons 54%.
27
min: TRY - Dragons.
John Carlaw crosses for the red and whites.
Conversion from Head OK.
Dragons 12-0
27
min: NEWS - Ryan Cross (Roosters) has been
put in the sin bin for 10 minutes.
32
min: PENALTY GOAL - Dragons.
Saints playing all over Easts at the moment.
Head makes no mistake.
Dragons 14-0
38
min: NEWS - Roosters coming back just before
half time. Saints losing the ball on the first
tackle.
Saints hang on before half back Mathew Head
attempts a long range field goal attempt.
The Dragons hold a handy lead at half time.
HALF
TIME: After holding some advantage early on,
the Roosters have been unable to contain the
Dragons strike power just wide of the ruck.
For the Roosters, Craig Fitzgibbon is working
hard as usual while Craig Wing is proving
dangerous at times with two line breaks.
For the depleted Saints outfit, honours are
evenly spread in the pack with Dean Young,
Brent Kite and Jason Ryles all working up
a storm. Half back Mathew Head risng to the
occasion with a top class kicking game.
Completions:
Roosters 15/21; Dragons 19/23
Tackles: Roosters 164-142
Mistackles: Roosters 10-9
Possession: Dragons 53%
Score: Dragons 14-0
Second
half underway...
50
min: NEWS - Still early days in the second
half with poessesion fairly evenly spread.
Roosters making a few errors. Overall possession
favours Dragons 52%
53
min: NEWS - Clinton Greenshields (Dragons)
is sin binned for 10 minutes.
54
min: TRY - Roosters.
Peter Cusack scores. Follows sustained pressure.
Conversion Craig Fitzgibbon.
Dragons 14-6
60
min: TRY - Roosters.
Anthing Minichiello scores following a bust
through a disjointed defensive line. The Roosters
are back.
Conversion Fitzgibbon OK.
Dragons 14-12
63
min: TRY - Roosters.
Adrian Morley bursts through to score. The
Roosters devastating in scoring three tries
in 10 minutes against a tired Dragons' defensive
line.
Conversion Fitzgibbon.
Roosters 18-14
70
min: NEWS - We're in the final 10 minutes
now and possession is dead even. Both sides
now completing their sets in what might be
a close finish.
76
min: NEWS - Roosters still just in front,
18-14.
FULL
TIME: Roosters win 18-14. Saints will rue
a 10 minute period when their fullback was
in the sin bin, the Dragons missing a multitude
of tackles while the Roosters went up a gear.
Completions:
Roosters 32/43; Dragons 34/42
Tackles: Roosters 313-298
Mistackles: Dragons 29-16
Hit ups: Roosters 177-156
Errors: Dragons 13-12
Penalties: Roosters 8-6
Score: Roosters 18-14
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - C Fitzgibbon (Roosters)
2 - M Head (Dragons)
1 - J Ryles (Dragons)
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