A resilient Sydney Roosters outfit have fallen to a 20-point defeat at the hands of the St George Illawarra Dragons at Collegians Sporting Complex on Sunday Afternoon.
An impressive outing from halfback Sandon Smith, who recorded two try assists and a try of his own, and a strong all-round performance from Ethan King wasn’t enough to restrict the Dragons, who piled on 26 first-half points in their victory.
Match: Dragons v Roosters
Round 12 -
home Team
Dragons
10th Position
away Team
Roosters
12th Position
Venue: Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong
Early momentum from the Roosters allowed them to gain a repeat set on the Dragons line, and the pressure afforded crafty halfback Sandon Smith an opportunity to scurry over from dummy half to open the scoring four minutes in. Smith converted his own try to give the Tricolours a six-point advantage.
The Roosters were pegged back with 18 minutes played, when Dragons hooker Connor Muhleisen dove over the line from dummy half, in almost a carbon-copy of Smith’s opener. Winger Alexander Lobb converted the try to level the match at 6-6.
Strong Roosters defence in the Dragons set after the try prevented the hosts from going back-to-back, and a penalty for a slow release gave Easts some much needed breathing space.
The Red, White, and Blue couldn’t resist the Dragons attacking onslaught however, failing to stop determined Dragons captain Billy Burns, as the second rower crashed over from close range to give the hosts the lead 25 minutes in. The try was converted by Lobb to hand the Dragons a six-point lead.
Following a cagey period where neither side could find the line, a penalty to the Dragons for an incorrect restart gave the hosts the chance to extend their lead to eight points, which they did through Lobb’s penalty goal.
St George Illawarra finished the half strongly, as Billy Burns notched his second try for the match in identical fashion to his first, after a short ball from his halfback put him into space, where he proved to be too big and too strong for the Tricolours defence. Lobb converted once more to make the score line 20-6 in favour of the Red V.
The Dragons were able to pile on even more points, after a penalty gave them valuable field position which was capitalised on by five-eighth Paul Turner, who put on some dazzling footwork to split the defence and cross right on the half-time buzzer. Lobb slotted the conversion to cement his team a 20-point advantage.
The Red, White, and Blue came roaring out of the blocks in the second half, as Allan Fitzgibbon crossed acrobatically in the corner for his tenth try of the season in the 43rd minute, following a delightful harbour-bridge pass from Smith, cutting the deficit to 16.
The Tricolours continued their attempts at an improbable comeback, putting the St George Illawarra defence under siege with a powerful and direct attacking set that resulted in Ethan King latching onto a nifty Smith grubber for Easts' second try in ten minutes. Smith added the extras, making the score 26-16.
The momentum of the Bondi Boys came to a halt 12 minutes later, when Burns crossed for his hattrick, capitalising on a deconstructed defensive line that had been desperately attempting to keep the Dragons scoreless in the second half. Lobb restored the Dragons 16-point lead with his conversion.
The Roosters wouldn’t die wondering, however, as they responded in style with a scintillating effort drawing them right back into the contest. On the last tackle, Smith chipped the ball over a sleeping Dragons defence, bouncing it perfectly into the path of a barnstorming Phoenix Steinwede, who booted the ball past the fullback and dived on it in the in-goal for a timely try. Smith converted to make the margin 10.
With eight minutes remaining Dragons halfback Zach Herring stepped past some tired Roosters defenders and planted the ball on the line, all but putting the game beyond the Tricolours reach as the hosts jumped to a 14-point lead.
Dragons prop Viliami Fifita sealed the win for the Dragons with a try under the posts in the last minute of play, latching on to a pass from his halfback that put him into space down the centre of the Roosters defence. Lobb converted once more to make the final score 42-22.
The Red, White and Blue will look to find a much needed win next week as they take on the Newtown Jets at Wentworth Park next Sunday afternoon.
Sydney Roosters 22 (Sandon Smith, Allan Fitzgibbon, Ethan King, Phoenix Steinwede tries, Sandon Smith 3 goals) def by St George Illawarra Dragons 42 (Connor Muhleisen, Paul Turner, Zach Herring, Viliami Fifita, Billy Burns 3 tries, Alexander Lobb 7 goals)
