|
 At
a cold and windy WIN Stadium, the St George
Illawarra Dragons have come away 28-10 victors
over the New Zealand Warriors tonight.
Dominating
possession and scoring six tries to two, the
Dragons never looked like losing.
With
an erratic but strong wind at their backs,
Saints held an 8-6 lead before crossing for
two tries just before the break. At half time,
the home side held a handy 18-6 lead.
But
the wind wasn't doing any favours for the
either side's kicking game with the ball going
out the full more than once, and blowing off
the kicking tee on two occasions.
With
New South Wales and Australian front rower
Jason Ryles making plenty of in-roads, the
Dragons maintained repeat sets at a desperate
Warriors' line.
The
Warriors struck back with a try to Francis
Meli in the 68th minute, this being small
comfort with Saints continuing to dominate
play just wide of the ruck.
The
Dragons finally put the match beyond doubt
when Ashton Sims backed up to score under
the posts, following another trademark charge
from Ryles.
WIN
Stadium
Referee: Jason Robinson
Scorers:
DRAGONS 28
Tries: Carlaw, Riddell, Simmonds, Hornby,
Youngquest, Sims
Goals: Riddell 1/3, Head 1/3
defeated
WARRIORS 10
Tries: Webb, Meli
Goals: Jones 1/2
By
the clock:
0
min: A cold night in windy Wollongong as players
come onto the field.
Warriors as per the card.
For the Dragons, Ashton Sims in the run-on
side, Justin Poore on the bench.
The wind favouring Saints. Kickoff!
7
min: NEWS - no score as yet with both sides
having opportunities.
10
min: TRY - Dragons.
John Carlaw scores in the corner from a Ben
Hornby grubber.
Conversion Riddell a difficult one in the
breezy conditions and is waved away.
Dragons 4-0
NEWS
- Warriors kickoff is out on the full!
14
min: TRY - Dragons.
Mark Riddell charges over from 3 metres out
following a penalty and quick tap.
Conversion 5m wide of goal is badly hooked
by Riddell.
Dragons 8-0
20
min: TRY - Warriors.
Brent Webb scores after he sights an opening
close to the line.
Conversion Stacey Jones 10m from goal is successful.
Dragons 8-6
23
min: NEWS - Referee hands out the 10th penalty
of the match so far with both sides guilty
of various infringements.
28
min: NO TRY - Dragons denied after obstruction
ruling from the video ref.
Dragons applying plenty of pressure.
33
min: NO TRY - Warriors denied when Clinton
Toopi loses the ball over the line and seems
to go into touch as well.
36
min: TRY - Dragons.
Reece Simmonds scores. Follows a cross-field
run from Shaun Timmins who draws in the defence,
attempts a flick pass to Simmonds, the ball
coming off his knee. He then follows through
with a neat pick up to score 10m in from touch.
Conversion attempt from Mathew Head unsuccessful.
Dragons 12-6
38
min: TRY - Dragons
Ben Hornby scores out wide following a good
ball from Trent Barrett. Hornby finding space
through the centres.
Conversion attempt delayed as ball is blown
off the tee. Mathew Head then gets another
player (Justin Poore) to hold the ball with
his finger. And the kick is a ripper!
Dragons 18-6
HALF
TIME SUMMARY:
With a blustery wind at their backs, the Dragons
will be thankful for two late tries in the
first half. Despite having more ball, the
Dragons are sometimes battling against the
big Warriors pack.
Nevertheless, the Warriors missed a lot of
tackles and will have to improve.
The strong breeze is sometimes all over the
place and a little unreliable for the kickers.
Half time score: Dragons 18-6
Second
half underway...
50
min: TRY - Dragons.
Nick Youngquest scores in the corner off a
Mathew Head pass.
Another difficult conversion attempt into
the teeth of the breeze is unsuccessful.
Dragons 22-6
58
min: NEWS - Dragons getting repeat sets at
the Warriors line and it seems to be only
a matter of time. Warriors with their 6th
line drop out of the night.
60
min: NO TRY - Mark Riddell for the Dragons
held up over the line, following a quick tap.
65
min: NEWS - Dragons getting a mountain of
posession. The Warriors have been desperate
in defence and survive. The visitors however,
are being caught out just wide of the ruck.
68
min: TRY - Warriors.
Francis Meli scores in the corner as the Warriors
get a rare opportunity at the other other
end of the field.
Unfortunately, the replay shows Meli going
into touch, but the referee never called for
the video ref. But a try is a try and the
Warriors are still a chance.
Conversion from Jones misses.
Dragons 22-10
74
min: TRY - Dragons.
Ashton Sims backing up and scores under the
posts. Follows a tremendous run up the middle
from Jason Ryles.
Conversion Riddell.
Dragons 28-10
78
min: NEWS - Warriors come close after a Jones
grubber kick, Wairangi Koopu unable take the
loose ball cleanly. Handling being a problem
for the Warriors tonight.
FULL
TIME SUMMARY: A professional display from
the Dragons who never looked like losing as
they dominated the ruck all night. Everyone
is the Saints' pack putting in the yards,
Jason Ryles being the stand-out. Halfback
Mathew Head also standing up in the second
half on the fringes of the ruck.
For the Warriors, they missed far too many
tackles and with a poor completion rate, struggled
to maintain possession all night.
-----------------------------------------
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - J Ryles (Dragons)
2 - M Head (Dragons)
1 - B Kite (Dragons)
-----------------------------------------
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