Round 16
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 26 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Dragons hold out fast finishing Manly
Sun July 1, 2007
St George Illawarra have lifted themselves off last position as the high flying Manly outfit suffered their second loss in successive weeks with the Dragons winning 26-22.

The Dragons have been doing it tough this season with a mounting injury toll, players out of form and supporters who are used to success mounting pressure on the players, coach and officials to continue the great St George tradition of consistently winning competition matches.

Manly have been enjoying an outstanding season based on strong defence and than relying on the brilliance of Brett Stewart to score the points. Stewart was missing today along with Brent Kite, Steve Bell and the out of form Jamie Lyon. But the Sea Eagles still had a stronger looking side than the Dragons with halfback Matt Orford there leading the way.

Jamie Soward opened the scoring for the Dragons in the 14th minute with a penalty goal.

Manly crossed for the first try of the afternoon with Glenn Stewart beating an ordinary attempt of tackle from Ben Hornby to score near the posts. Manly's field position came courtesy of an early tackle error from impressive youngster Josh Morris who was moved to the wing to accomodate the return of Hornby. Orford added the extras for Manly to lead 6-2.

Soward leveled up the scores in the 24th minute when he raced 40m backing up a break to score in the left hand corner. Soward's conversion attempt was wide of the mark leaving the scores locked up, which remained that way until the half-time break.

Huge Manly prop Adam Cuthbertson regained the Sea Eagles lead six minutes into the second half when he went through Danny Wicks in a bad one-on-one miss for another soft try, which again came from an error from Morris. Orford added the extras as Manly soared to a 12-6 lead.

Beau Scott crossed for the first of his two tries in the 49th minute when Wicks made up for his missed tackling bursting through the Sea Eagles defence and found Scott in support for the try. Soward's successful conversion leveled up the scores.

Manly nearly regained the lead moments later when a banana kick from Orford was nearly collected by Travis Burns who was chasing through the kick. The video referee correctly ruled that Burns had knocked on the ball in the scramble for possession.

The Dragons received a double bonus when Manly were attempting to play catch up globe trotting football with the scores leveled and 24 minutes remaining when a miracle ball from Michael Robertson was plucked out of the air by Soward who raced 80m to score. Soward converted his own try for the Dragons to lead 18-12.

A great break from Corey Payne in the set of six from the restart put the Dragons deep on the attack and next tackle after the Payne burst saw Rangi Chase grubber into the ingoal area where Ben Creagh pounced on the ball to score. Soward missed the conversion attempt with the Dragons leading 22-12 heading into the final 20 minutes.

Scott looked to have sealed victory for the Dragons with 13 minutes remaining when he was on the spot to collect a tap back from Creagh following a Dragons cross field bomb. The try pushed the Dragons out to 26-12 and they looked home and hosed.

Manly finally got their minds on the job of winning the clash and a smart short kick off from Orford saw them regain possession. In the same set of six the Sea Eagles scored with Nick Bradley-Qalilawa scoring in the corner. Orford was unable to convert as the Dragons held a slender 10-point lead heading into the final ten minutes.

An outstanding try by Chris Hicks following a break from Shane Neumann in the 77th minute gave the Sea Eagles more than a great opportunity of stealing the match and more so after Orford landed a fine sideline conversion to reduce the margin to four points.

Manly threw everything at the inexperienced Dragons in the final two minutes and somehow the Dragons hung on for victory with Orford coming close on the last tackle and a one-on-one strip in the final 20 seconds nearly seeing the Sea Eagles steal a victory that didn't seem possible when Scott scored his second try.

The Dragons even though they ended up winning the match really played like a team that was capable of playing well, but not winning the contest. To get over the line digging deep in defence will be a huge confidence booster for them.

Comments were made about Manly that they were possibly a myth *prior* to their loss against the Bulldogs last week and increased since going down 27-8 at the Fortress. The Sea Eagles were expected to put away a poor performing Dragons outfit today and they didn't. Doubts will now be entering Manly's minds about their ability to win the tight matches.

Both Orford and veteran Steve Menzies failed to inspire the Sea Eagles with Orford's inability in big matches coming to haunt him and it appears that Menzies is a frustrated over the hill footballer continuing on in the hope of cracking 350 first grade games.

Full credit to the Dragons who dug deep and played with plenty of guts in front of a passionate crowd at Kogarah today - one of the truly great Rugby League venues. Creagh was outstanding for the home side with others to impressive including Soward, Scott and Payne.

After talk all week of the words "Oust Doust" being printed in the sky today to gain further attention to Chief Executive Peter Doust, it never occured with the closest being a banner titled "Oust Doust" and a few chants.


Creagh to captain Dragons for the first time
Tue June 26, 2007
Source: www.dragons.com.au

Wollongong University junior Ben Creagh will this weekend Captain the Dragons for the first time when they take on the Sea Eagles at OKI Jubilee Stadium this Sunday.

Creagh, 22, is the only Dragons player to have taken part in every game this year and has been rewarded for his commitment and leadership both on and off the field.

The Dragons also welcome back front rower Adam Peek from his two week suspension on the interchange bench along with Keith Lulia who replaces NSW Origin representative Matt Cooper.

Unavailable Dragons are: Mark Gasnier (Pectoral), Wes Naiqama (Knee), Dean Young (Knee), Ben Hornby (Calf), Brett Morris (Shoulder), Ashton Sims (Knee) and Jason Ryles (Knee).

NRL v Manly Sea Eagles
3.00pm Sunday 1 July
Oki Jubilee Stadium
Coach: Nathan Brown

1. Josh Morris
2. Jason Nightingale
3. Chase Stanley
4. Keith Lulia
5. Tom Hewitt
6. Rangi Chase
7. Jamie Soward
8. Justin Poore
9. Simon Woolford
10. Dan Hunt
11. Beau Scott
12. Chris Houston
13. Ben Creagh (c)

Interchange:
14. Adam Peek
15. Ben Ellis
16. Lagi Setu
17. Corey Payne

Premier League v Balmain Tigers
1.00pm Sunday 1 July
Oki Jubilee Stadium
Coach: Steven Price

1. Michael Lett
2. Ronald Prince
3. Frank Samia
4. James Jimenez
5. Sam Morath
6. Reece Blayney
7. Brad Davidson
8. Ricky Thorby
9. Tony Caine
10. Danny Wicks
11. Ryan Powell (c)
12. Sam Isemonger
13. Matt Prior

14. Charlie Leaeno
15. Ricardo Young
16. Casey Ellis
17. Nick Doig

News sent by: www.dragons.com.au

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