Dragons out-grit Tigers

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The Dragons have claimed their third consecutive win after defeating the Tigers 13-12 in a gritty match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front off 21,844.

A field goal to Jamie Soward in the 73rd minutes reclaimed the lead for the Dragons and was enough for the Dragons to take out a messy match. 
It was all the Tigers early in the match as they were handed several opportunities to take on the Dragons' try line, but poor execution and handling errors saw the home side fall short. 
Three back to back sets were enough for the Dragons to get over the line with Soward putting Brett Morris over to open up the scoring in the 29th minute. Soward failed to convert the try. 
Both sides were given some quality ball in the final minutes of the half but neither team were able to get over the try line. 

A field goal to Jamie Soward in the 73rd minutes reclaimed the lead for the Dragons and was enough for the Dragons to take out a messy match. 

It was all the Tigers early in the match, as they dominated posession as field posession, but their inability to execute in attack saw them fail to convert their opportunities into points.

Three back-to-back sets were enough for the Dragons to get over the line with Soward putting Daniel Vidot over to open up the scoring in the 29th minute. Soward failed to convert the try. 

Both sides were given some quality ball in the final minutes of the half but neither team were able to get over the try line. 

It was all the Dragons early in the second half as the Tigers struggled to get back into the match.

Soward was instrumental again as he created a try for Brett Morris in the 49th minute. Soward failed to convert again. 

The Dragons were over again in the 57th minute through Matt Cooper. Soward failed to convert again, keeping the Dragons' lead to 12.

The Tigers hit back through Ben Murdoch-Masila seven minutes late, barging over the try line to get the Tigers back into the match. Braith Anasta converted the try to put the Tigers within in a converted try of the lead.

A fantastic break by Blake Tedesco put Tim Moltzen over the try line only three minutes later before Anasta converted the try to lever the scores. 
The Tigers were almost over again after Robbie Farah put Blake Ayshford into a gap, but Ayshford lost the ball only 10 metres out.


Match Details
Wests Tigers 12 St. George Illawarra Dragons 13
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Crowd: 21,844
Halftime Score:

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Daniel Vidot
2 points - Tyson Frizell
1 point - Brett Morris

WESTS TIGERS (12)
Tries: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Tim Moltzen
Field Goals:
Conversions: Braith Anasta (2/2)
Penalty Goals:

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (13)
Tries: Daniel Vidot, Brett Morris, Matt Cooper (3)
Field Goals: Jamie Soward (1/2)
Conversions: Jamie Soward (0/3)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

TEAM NEWS - Tigers have several - Benji Marshall, Liam Fulton and Bodene Thompson all OUT of the side named Tuesday. Curtis Sironen starts at 5/8th in jersey 21. Blair moves to the 2nd row, Murdoch-Masila also promoted there, with Matt Bell coming off the bench to play lock. The two new bench players are Sausao Sue and Shaun Spence.
For the Dragons, Michael Henderson drops off the five-man bench, meaning Damien Cook will debut in jersey #18.

Tigers: 1. Tim Moltzen 2. Joel Reddy 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Chris Lawrence 5. James Tedesco 21. Curtis Sironen 7. Braith Anasta 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Jack Buchanan 13. Adam Blair 14. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Matt Bell
Interchange: 15. Ava Seumanufagai 17. Eddy Pettybourne 18. Sauaso Sue 19. Shaun Spence

Dragons: 1. Jason Nightingale 2. Brett Morris 3. Chase Stanley 4. Matt Cooper 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Jamie Soward 7. Nathan Fien 8. Dan Hunt 9. Mitch Rein 10. Jack Stockwell 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Ben Creagh 13. Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14. Bronson Harrison 15. Matt Prior 16. Jack de Belin 18. Damien Cook
Both teams have come out onto the field, we should have kick off very shortly.
1 min: Jamie Soward gets first touch after the Tigers kick off.
1 min: The Dragons make 45 metres on their first set before Nathan Fien boots the ball down field
2 min: The Tigers are 39 metres out from the Dragons' line on the last when Braith Anasta fails to get a hold of a poor dummy half pass from Robbie Farrah.
2 min: The Dragons are 30 metres out on the third when Dan Hunt is pinned for a forward pass.
5 min: Mitch Rein knocks the ball on 30 out from his own line and the Tigers will receive a great attacking opportunity.
4 min: The Tigers are 10 metres out on the last after some great runs, Farrah goes to the air but the kick is brilliantly taken by Cheyse Stanley in the in-goal.
4 min:
6 min: NO TRY! The Tigers are pinned for an obstruction after Kurtis Sironen runs into a hole created by Aaron Woods.
6 min: The Tigers might have a try here!
8 min: Stanley knocks on 30 metres out from the Tigers' line.
10 min: Farrah makes a break only to lose the ball 10 out from the Dragons' line.
14 min: The Dragons will get a penalty 20 metres out from the Tigers' line after Fien is taken out late.
14 min: Jack Stockwell knocks on with the line wide open.
16 min: Play has been stopped after Ben Murdock-Masila is injured in back play.
16 min: The Tigers receive their first penalty 30 out from their own line.
17 min: The Tigers force a line drop out.
20 min: Chris Lawrence is tackled in to touch on the last a few metres out from the try line.
22 min: Jason Nightingale throws a hospitable pass and the Tigers will get a scrum 40 out from the Dragons' line.
22 min: Farah goes to the air on the last and Nightingale has no problem diffusing it in the in goal.
25 min: The Dragons receive a penalty 20 out from their own line.
26 min: The Dragons force a line drop out.
28 min: TRY! Soward drifts across field and passes to Daniel Vidot who opens up the scoring at the Sydney Cricked Ground. Soward's conversion attempt from the sideline is unsuccesful.
St. George Illawarra Dragons 4-0
33 min: The Tigers receive a penalty and will start a set of six 40 out from their own line.
34 min: The Tigers force a line drop out.
36 min: Anasta goes to the air on the last and Joel Reddy plucks the ball out of the air he offloads the ball as he hammered by the defence. Sauaso Sue fails to offload as he is tackled.
37 min: The Tigers will receive another attacking opportunity after Soward kicks the ball out on the full.
37 min: Chris Lawrence loses the ball over the tryline after a great pass from Anasta.
38 min: The Dragons might have another try here.
39 min: NO TRY! Tyson Frizell is denied and the Tigers will get a 20 metre tap.
40 min: Matt Cooper is tackled as the half time siren sounds.
41 min: The second half is under way.
45 min: Daniel Vidot diffuses an Anasta bomb just in the field of play and makes a 45 metre kick return, the Dragons are in a great position.
46 min: Lawrence knocks on four metres out from his own line.
48 min: The Dragons receive a penalty and will get another six tackles a few metres out.
49 min: TRY! Soward sets up a try for Brett Morris. Soward misses the conversion.
St. George Illawarra Dragons 8-0
55 min: Jason Nightingale is down. He was about to play the ball 10 out from his own line.
56 min: Frizell makes a 20 metre break down field and the Dragons are 20 out on the last.
58 min: TRY! Matt Cooper scores for the Dragons after Soward spreads the ball out wide. Soward misses another conversion.
St. George Illawarra Dragons 12-0
60 min: Murdoch-Masila loses the ball 40 out from his own line. The Dragons will go on the attack again.
61 min: Fien loses the ball 20 out from the Tigers' line.
62 min: The Tigers receive a penalty and will go right on the attack.
64 min: The Tigers get another penalty, they're only a few metres out.
66 min: Murdoch Masila Barges over and the Tigers are back in the game. Anasta converts from right in front and we have a six-point ball game.
St. George Illawarra Dragons 12-6
68 min: Tedesco makes a break and offloads to Tim Moltzen who scores for the Tigers Anasta kicks a difficult conversion and scores are level.
12 all
12 all
70 min: Farah puts Ayshford into space and he loses the ball only ten out from the Dragons' line, he completely butchered that try, he was over.
72 min: The Dragons knock it on 20 out from their own line and Tigers are on the attack
72 min: Moltzen loses the ball 10 out from the Dragons' line on the last.
73 min: Anasta is off the field for the Tigers, he has a lot of experience kicking field goals, so that's a big loss for the Tigers/
75 min: Dragons are on halfway on the third, they should have a field goal opportunity at the end of this set.
76 min: Soward attempts a field goal from 40 out and it's a poor attempt.
77 min: Shaun Spence loses the ball 45 out from his own line, the Dragons will have a scrum 45 out with three minutes to go.
77 min: Soward kicks a field goal and the Dragons are back in front.
St. George Illawarra Dragons 13-12
79 min: The Tigers are off the hook. They have 80 metres to go.
80 min: Murdock-Masila knocks on again and that should be the ball game, the Dragons are 30 out.
80 min: Fien is tackled with the ball as the siren sounds and that's the ball game folks. The Dragons win a gritty match. That's their third win a row after a slow start to the season.
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