Second half effort seals Dragons win

The Dragons have won the traditional NRL ANZAC Day clash at the Sydney Football Stadium this afternoon. After trailing 6-4 at half time, the Dragons comprehensively won the second half, running out 28-6 winners in a game where the game was closer than the score suggests.

In front of a crowd of 36,212 the Roosters took an early lead through a Todd Carney penalty goal. The Dragons scored the first try as Matt Cooper drew defenders and put Brett Morris over. The majority of the first half was back and forth defence, and the Roosters took an unexpected half time lead after a try to Mitchell Aubusson right before the siren.

After the break the Dragons came out firing and took only seven minutes to regather the lead after an exceptional effort by Trent Merrin to score after he had seemingly been wrapped up by the defence. Six minutes later the Dragons chanced their arm and scored after a grubber kick down the line was fumbled by Todd Carney and Matt Cooper crossed to give the Dragons a 10 point lead.

The Roosters looked game to try to stay in the match but simply lacked the ability to finish against the strong Dragons defence. They were made to pay as the Dragons scored two late tries to blow the score out with Luke Priddis scoring off a Creagh offload, and with five minutes remaining Matt Cooper was awarded a penalty try after being held back following a Dragons line break.

In the final few minutes the Roosters hung on in defence to ensure the scoreline didn't blow out any more, but failed to add to their own points tally. In the end the Dragons ran out comfortable winners, 28-6 - although despite the scoreline the Roosters did not disgrace themselves at all.

Match Details
St George Illawarra Dragons 28 defeated Sydney Roosters 6
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 7 - Sunday April 25, 2010 4:00pm
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer and Alan Shortall
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Adam Devcich
Crowd: 36,212
Halftime: St George Illawarra Dragons 4 Sydney Roosters 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Matt Cooper (2 Tries)
2 Points - Luke Priddis (1 Try)
1 Point - Ben Creagh

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (28)
Tries: Matt Cooper (2), Luke Priddis, Brett Morris, Trent Merrin
Field Goals: Jamie Soward (0/1)
Conversions: Jamie Soward (4/5)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (6)
Tries: Mitchell Aubusson
Conversions: Todd Carney (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Todd Carney (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good afternoon from the Sydney Football Stadium. Welcome to the League Unlimited coverage of the traditional ANZAC Day clash featuring the Dragons vs the Roosters. Earlier today the Roosters claimed a 54-22 Toyota Cup win after leading 18-16 at half time.
The Roosters are 1-17. The Dragons are also as per programme.
1 min: Must be nearly a full house at the SFS, and the Roosters kick us off!
2 min: Roosters first kick just edges the top of the corner post and the Dragons receive a 20 metre tap.
3 min: The sun is shining, however the surface itself seems quite lush and slippery - exemplified as Todd Carney slips while retrieving a kick.
4 min: VIDEO REF for a possible Dragons try...
4 min: NO TRY - Darius Boyd held up, referees call.
5 min: After the Roosters produce a mistake coming out of their own end, they just hold Darius Boyd out before the Dragons cough the ball up on the last tackle. Roosters then assisted out of their own end with a penalty.
7 min: PENALTY GOAL
PENALTY GOAL Sydney Roosters
Penalty goal attempt by Todd Carney successful.
Sydney Roosters 2-0
9 min: Roosters suddenly finding plenty of yardage through the Dragons defence, however the kick on the last tackle rolls harmlessly over the dead ball line.
9 min: Roosters give away a penalty, putting the Dragons on attack from 25 metres out.
11 min: Soward chips into the in-goal and it is defused comfortably by Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
12 min: A much better kick from the Roosters nets them a goal line drop out. Todd Carney knocks on attempting to catch the kick.
14 min: Anasta defuses another harmless Soward kick.
16 min: Dragons on attack after another penalty.
17 min: Soward delivers another chip into the in-goal and again is easily defused by the Roosters.
23 min: Exciting period of play - both teams offering a lot in attack with poor options at the end. Mitchell Pearce puts a huge hit on Hornby who loses the ball and the Roosters break out, but a poor kick give the Dragons the ball.
26 min: Some big defence and great hits coming. Roosters possibly hard done by with a knock on called and the Dragons get a scrum 10 out, hot on attack.
26 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Dragons work a short-side move from the scrum base. Matt Cooper draws the Roosters defence and passes to Brett Morris who scores an easy try. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 4-2
33 min: Dragons currently taking the upper hand, the Roosters having all sorts of difficulty getting out of their own end.
35 min: Dragons producing a better tactical kicking game. They're definitely getting a real run for their money.
36 min: A little bit of biff, the Chooks taking exception to a tackle made by Beau Scott and the Roosters will go hot on attack.
36 min: Kenny-Dowall forces an unnecessary pass early in the tackle count while threatening the Dragons line.
38 min: Roosters get an attacking scrum after Hornby kicks the ball right at Daniel Conn.
39 min: Carney busts down the sideline and is tackled just short. Next play the Roosters go down a very narrow short-side and throw the ball back infield to the Dragons, and Weyman is forced over the sideline.
40 min: VIDEO REF for a possible Roosters try...
40 min: TRY
TRY Sydney Roosters
Pearce puts up a chip to the wing, it gets batted down by Perrett and is dived on just in time by Mitchell Aubusson. Conversion attempt by Todd Carney unsuccessful.
Sydney Roosters 6-4
40 min: Half time in a highly entertaining ANZAC Day clash. The Roosters take a very narrow two point lead into the sheds.
40 min: Back underway at the SFS!
46 min: More of the same from the first half - plenty of attacking interest being nullified by strong defence. Roosters give away the first penalty of the half.
47 min: VIDEO REF for a possible Dragons try...
47 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Roosters just barely hold out Creagh, and on the following play the Dragons pass to Merrin who falls over in an innocuous looking tackle but somehow manages to ground the ball. Second decision of the day referred back to the referees on field.. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 10-6
53 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Dragons put in a grubber, Carney fails to field it properly and Cooper is there to pick up the scraps and score.. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 16-6
56 min: Hornby kicks out on the full giving the Roosters a chance to attack. They've still got well over 20 minutes to come back from 10 down.
57 min: Dragons hold the Roosters out and get the ball back.
59 min: Dragons give away a penalty on the last tackle five out from their own line.
59 min: Again, early in the count the Roosters waste a good attacking opportunity as Minichello is forced into touch.
62 min: Roosters get a penalty to get out of their own end.
65 min: Roosters pick up a line drop out.
67 min: Roosters playing plenty of attacking football, but they're really lacking finishing ability, especially in their kicking game.
69 min: UNFORCED ERROR Sydney Roosters
Braith Anasta loses the ball coming out of his own end, and is really blowing up about the call. To follow it up the Roosters give away a penalty.
70 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Creagh beats a lazy Roosters tackle and breaks the line before offloading to Luke Priddis who runs over Todd Carney to score.. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 22-6
74 min: VIDEO REF for a Dragons penalty try...
75 min: TRY
TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons spread it wide from the scrum, Morris breaks down the sideline. His pass infield to Matt Cooper is knocked down by Kenny-Dowall who then holds Cooper back from scoring a certain try. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 28-6
77 min: CROWD: 36,212
78 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
Field goal attempt by Jamie Soward charged down.
St George Illawarra Dragons 28-6
78 min: Another spot of biff as the Dragons take exception to a Roosters tackle. The tackle ends up being penalised.
78 min: Great running catch by Minichello is negated by a penalty awarded to the Dragons.
80 min: Dragons give away a penalty in possession to ensure the final score will likely remain as it is.
80 min: Full Time. An enjoyable game with a scoreline that probably doesn't adequately show how close the game really was.