NRL Match Review: St George-Illawarra Dragons 12 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 21
Dragons 12
Tries:Benji Marshall, Jason Nightingale
Goals:Gareth Widdop 2/3
Sea Eagles 21
Tries:Steve Matai, Brett Stewart, Tom Symonds, Jorge Tafua
Goals:Jamie Lyon 2/5
Field Goals:Daly Cherry-Evans
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles have assumed outright 1st place on the National Rugby League ladder after a comfortable 21-12 win over a lacklustre St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Jubilee Oval tonight.
The Sea Eagles led 10-8 at half-time and despite a mountain of possession in the second half, the Dragons couldn’t crack their opponents and looked pedestrian in attack.
The Dragons opened the scoring via a Gareth Widdop penalty goal in the 9th minute but the Sea Eagles hit back with a try to centre Steve Matai in the 20th minute. Jamie Lyon converted and the visitors led 6-2.
Just two minutes later they extended their lead when Kieran Foran ran the ball on the last and caught the Dragons napping, before backing up and finishing the move to score his side’s second try.
The Dragons needed a try to stay in the game and Benji Marshall delivered with a 37th-minute try, converted by Widdop to make it 10-8.
The second half saw the Dragons earn three consecutive drop outs without success, something that must have affected team morale.
Tom Symonds scored a try off a suspect pass in the 53rd minute to extend his side’s lead and Lyon converted to make it 16-8.
Jorge Tafua crashed over in the 59th minute to make it 20-8 and the game threatened to get ugly for the Dragons. The Sea Eagles pushed further ahead with a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal that his side 13 points in front with just 5 minutes to play.
Jason Nightingale scored a consolation try in the 77th minute, but there would be no denying the Sea Eagles who climbed two points clear on top of the ladder, while the Dragons remain in a log-jam of teams on 20 points.
