Match Centre

FULL TIME - It was hardly a classic for the ages but the Dragons hold on for a 18-14 win.

That should be it as Mathew Feagai leaps above and takes the kick on the last.

Tommy Talau with an error as the Tigers explore the left edge with Apisai Koroisau setting the pace out of dummy-half.

Stefano Utoikamanu goes close to scoring but otherwise not much of a threat in that set, the Tigers. They spin it right on the last and a short kick from John Bateman doesn't pay off as the Dragons dive on it.

A huge set from the Tigers who charge up the field with some simple straight running and it ends with them forcing a dropout.

A meek ending to the set as Tyrell Sloan is wrapped up on the last.

Jahream Bula does brilliantly in cover defence to field a Dragons grubber. Dropout forced but that's a try if he's not there.

Junior Tupou drops the ball now. Dragons 20 out with a chance to put this game to bed.

Brandon Wakeham puts it down.

Starford To'a with a brilliant bat-back on the last tackle kick. Jahream Bula storms onto it and then puts in a beautifully-weighted kick to force the dropout.

Tigers offside off a kick and again they gift the Dragons ANOTHER chance to try build some pressure.

Daine Laurie again! A beautiful cut-out pass to Junior Tupou and he looks for support after making a linebreak but Jahream Bula just can't squeeze through in support for the pass, so Tupou kicks but it sits up for the Dragons.

Jack de Belin almost reaches out to score but then flicks a late offload which Alex Seyfarth dives on.

The answer is no.

Another penalty for the Dragons. Can they complete a set though?

And that's another wasted set for the Dragons. Talatau Amone fires a long ball to Mathew Feagai who is taken into touch.

Tallyn Da Silva now on for Apisai Koroisau as a relieving penalty takes the Dragons inside the Tigers' half with Mikaele Ravalawa down receiving treatment on a lower leg issue.

But the Dragons again just throw away possession as Billy Burns tosses it over the sideline.

Is this the break the Dragons need? A knock on from John Bateman and the Dragons have a full set 40 out.

Dragons just not building anything as Apisai Koroisau forces an error from Jacob Liddle by grabbing onto his arm as he shapes to pass. Tigers' ball on their own 30.

John Bateman auditioning for the vacancy at striker for the Matildas (please ignore the fact he isn't Australian) as he kicks the ball up mid-air, skilfully regathers it and the Tigers may have something going here on the last but they are ruled offside on the chase.

No points to come from that set for the Dragons as Jahream Bula does brilliantly to pick up a ricocheting grubber of the last.

Junior Tupou pinged for running behind Tommy Talau and gaining an advantage. Obstruction.

First error of the second half as Dan Russell puts it down in heavy contact from Daine Laurie. Turnover near halfway.

Back underway!

HALF TIME - Daine Laurie hasn't always been perfect with his execution but you've got to love his heavy involvement and it paid dividends late in the half. Apisai Koroisau celebrated his new contract with a try late but his crafty work at dummy-half has tested the Dragons defence all game. Tigers up 14-12 at the break.

Potential try bombed there! John Bateman runs it on the last and then flicks it back inside, the ball is offloaded out the back to Alex Seyfarth by Fonua Pole and then spun to Isaiah Papali'i. Tommy Talau gets early ball now and has Junior Tupou in space but takes them on himself and is wrapped up.

Daine Laurie with a huge break through the middle and the Tigers are 10 out. Moses Suli now drops the bomb on the last. Tigers with a full set 10 out.

Jahream Bula holds it up for Starford To'a with a chance here for a try but the Dragons scramble brilliantly to hold him up just short. The Tigers don't fire a shot on the fifth and turn it over cheaply.

Daine Laurie with a nice kick to force the dropout.

Jahream Bula with quick hands to David Nofoaluma and it needed to be with Mathew Feagai rushing in and whacking the fullback. The young Tiger is down, time is stopped and Mathew Feagai is on report but not in the bin for a high shot.

No touch and challenge is lost. Two challenges gone in 27 minutes in Spoonbowl (insert pretends to be shocked GIF).

Dan Russell puts it down cheaply though as the Dragons turn it over. The Dragons, however, are challenging and believe there is a touch from the Tigers.

Apisai Koroisau, who has easily been the Tigers' best so far, almost nails a 40/20 but Tyrell Sloan races back to get it. Dragons now over halfway on the third and well on top.

An error now as Jahream Bula puts the ball down deep inside their own half.. But the Tigers are challenging it.

Brandon Wakeham's kick on the last is way too heavy and Daine Laurie is visibly frustrated/

Something was building there as the Dragons go down the right side and Zac Lomax cleverly quickly passes inside to Tyrell Sloan but the fullback drops it under the pressure of Apisai Koroisau. Tigers 40 out.

Dragons 15 out on the last with Mikaele Ravalawa and now Tommy Talau is penalised after coming together with Tyrell Sloan, who was supposed to be at the play-the-ball. Can the Tigers survive a full set defending their line?

The Tigers really throwing it around and playing with a great tempo, Apisai Koroisau again looking threatening playing off quick play-the-balls while Jahream Bula is having success sniffing around the middle for offloads. Isaiah Papali'i shifts it to Daine Laurie though and this set comes to an early end as the five-eighth drops it.

A great set after points as Apisai Koroisau makes a half break, having really tested the Dragons' defence around the ruck on multiple occasions. Daine Laurie to the air on the last, Jahream Bula contests it well but Mikaele Ravalawa comes down with the ball.

Now a high tackle on Tommy Talau invites the Tigers into the Dragons' half.

ALMOST! Ben Hunt shapes to pass and fools Daine Laurie, getting through and the try line is there for the halfback but Isaiah Papali'i holds on and gets help from Jahream Bula to force the error. Close call.

Brandon Wakeham creates some space as he explores the right edge and then turns it back inside to David Nofoaluma but the winger drops it. Dragons with a full set 40 out.

Both sides trading regulation sets so far with neither threatening too much.

A few promising plays, including a surging Isaiah Papali'i run, but the Tigers lack execution on the fourth as they go sideways. A simple bomb on the last and the Dragons survive that first examination.

Dragons 40 out on the last. Talatau Amone to the air and it's a regulation kick for the Tigers to field and now they get a relieving penalty with the Tigers ruled offside.

A pretty average first set for the Tigers who are forced to kick from inside their 30. Tyrell Sloan has it and takes it up towards his own 30 for the first set of the night for the home side.

Underway here on Thursday night. Tigers with first use of it.

A late change for the Tigers, Shawn Blore has suffered a quad strain in the warm-up and is replaced by Fonua Pole at lock.

On a serious note this could be a lot of fun if both teams play with a bit of freedom and like they have nothing to lose. The Tigers have the better pack on paper but the Dragons' backline has the advantage. I guess we'll see which is the bigger advantage in this instance soon enough.

Just repeating this is the live blog for the Dragons and Tigers game, so if you accidentally clicked on this thinking it was something else, you still have time to save yourself.

Good evening and welcome to the annual edition of 'Spoonbowl'. In this year's instalment, two of the pre-season favourites for the honour - the Dragons and Tigers - face off on a chilly Thursday night.