Dragons run away from sloppy Eagles

The Saint George Illawarra Dragons have claimed a comfortable 32-10 win over an error-ridden Manly Sea Eagles in front of a crowd of 14,740 at Kogarah tonight.

After an arm-wrestle of a start, the Dragons opened the scoring in the 13th minute after Jamie Soward broke through a staggered defensive line and beat Roberston at fullback to score.

They increased their lead to 10-0 after Mark Gasnier was awarded a try that should never have been given. In twisting around to plant the ball, video replays showed the ball clearly lost contact with his hand and arm, but video referee Bill Harrigan saw fit to award a try through benefit of the doubt.

Manly were able to strike back just before half time. Michael Robertson caught a cross field bomb and threw a perfect offload to Tony Williams who picked the ball up off his bootlaces to beat some defenders to score for the 10-4 halftime score.

The Dragons pushed their lead up to 12 points just after halftime when Weyman was the beneficiary of a great Priddis offload.

The bad call ledger was evened up with Manly's second try after Kieran Foran scored off a clearly forward pass.

The Dragons 12 point lead was restored after Nathan Fien scored a fine try after throwing a dummy and stepping through the defensive line.

With Manly hot on attack, Anthony Watmough put in a kick with an overlap and after several rebounds it ended up with Beau Scott who ran over 80 metres to score against the run of play to effectively end the game as a contest.

With four minutes remaining, the Dragons signed off on an emphatic win as Soward put Morris over with a fantastic cut-out pass.

Match Details
St George Illawarra Dragons 32 defeated Manly Sea Eagles 10
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 23 - Monday August 16, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah
Referee: Matt Cecchin and Shayne Hayne
Video Referee: Bill Harrigan
Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and Steve Chiddy
Crowd: 14,740
Halftime: St George Illawarra Dragons 10 Manly Sea Eagles 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Michael Weyman (1 Try)
2 Points - Jason Nightingale
1 Point - Jamie Soward (1 Try, 4 Conversions)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (32)
Tries: Mark Gasnier, Michael Weyman, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Brett Morris, Beau Scott
Conversions: Jamie Soward (4/6)

MANLY SEA EAGLES (10)
Tries: Tony Williams, Kieran Foran
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Team changes: For the Dragons, Hornby is out and is replaced by Fien. Emmett moves on to the bench ahead of Prior. Manly: Hopoate is out, replaced by Robertson who moves to fullback and Michael Oldfield moves onto the wing.
The Dragons won the Toyota Cup contest 46-14 after leading 28-0 at half time.
In their first clash this season, Manly claimed a convincing 24-6 over the Dragons.
1 min: The Dragons get us underway!
2 min: Oldfield nearly spills his first catch in first grade, but hold onto it nicely in the end.
5 min: Beau Scott ruled to have lost the ball coming out of his own end, replays indicated a strip.
7 min: Boyd does good work getting the ball out of his in-goal, Neville Costigan was injured attempting a tackle several plays earlier.
13 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons keep the ball alive, and it drifts out to Soward who steps through a broken defensive line and beats the cover defence to score under the posts. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 6-0
15 min: It's been an interesting arm wrestle so far, both teams have been playing territory and safety first football so far. The Soward try was the only expansive piece of football played so far tonight.
17 min: Boyd finds Cooper on a kick return, and Many are forced to backpedal and give away a penalty to put the Dragons on attack.
18 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try...
18 min: NO TRY - Beau Scott knocks on attempting to dive over to score.
20 min: Dragons hold out a Manly attacking raid.
22 min: Dean Young kicks out on the full and Manly will attack from halfway.
23 min: Nightingale makes a miracle escape from the in goal.
27 min: The Dragons go awfully close to scoring several times, then attempt a kick early in the count which is returned 30 metres by Manly.
28 min: Manly bomb a try, the bomb goes up for Williams who offloads it and Stewart keeps it alive for Robinson who puts it down with just two men to beat.
29 min: Oldfield lets a kick bounce and Soward nearly gets another kick to it, and Oldfield is questionably ruled to have knocked on, giving the Dragons another opportunity.
30 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try...
32 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Criminal decision. Mark Gasnier clearly loses the ball attempting to ground it, but video referee Harrigan rules in favour of the Dragons Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-0
34 min: Dragons called back for a forward pass in their own half.
37 min: Oldfield makes a good kick return to put Manly on attack.
38 min: A penalty keeps Manly on attack.
40 min: TRY
TRY Manly Sea Eagles
Great try! Manly bomb to their right side, Robertson makes a great catch and offloads to Williams who makes a great catch himself and beats several tacklers to score in the corner. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-4
40 min: Half time in an interesting game. Manly should only be down by two points, but instead trail 10-4 at the break.
40 min: Back underway at Kogarah!
41 min: Tony Williams completely misjudges a bomb and ends up conceding a line drop out.
43 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Priddis goes from dummy half and throws an amazing offload to Weyman who crashes over to score. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 16-4
45 min: Manly go for the short kickoff and retain possession.
46 min: Manly nearly score a repeat of their first try, but the Dragons defence scrambles well.
47 min: Manly look completely revitalised, and go close to scoring again.
49 min: TRY
TRY Manly Sea Eagles
Manly keep the ball alive and Kite throws a massively forward pass to Foran who scores under the posts. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 16-10
51 min: Watmough lets the restart bounce into touch and the Dragons will go back on attack 15 out.
53 min: Fien puts in a poor kick and Manly hold out.
54 min: Manly lose the ball coming out of their end.
55 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Fien gets the ball, dummies and steps through the defence to score a fantastic try. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 22-10
56 min: Manly regather the short restart again.
58 min: Oldfield knocks on contesting an attacking bomb.
60 min: Manly go on attack off a penalty.
62 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Watmough makes an awful decision to kick with an overlap on, the ball rebounds off Soward and Matai knocks on, and it's picked up by Beau Scott who runs 85 metres to score. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-10
67 min: Brett Morris makes a great try saving tackle.
70 min: Dragons throw a forward pass as the game begins to wind down.
71 min: This time Cooper makes a try saving tackle, and on the next play Manly knock on trying to keep it alive.
74 min: Jason King on report for a high tackle.
76 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Soward throws a great cut-out pass to Morris who beats Williams all ends up to score. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 32-10
76 min: CROWD - 14,740
80 min: Soward chips over the top, regathers and then throws a forward pass to Nightingale who puts it down.