Tonegato denies Roosters victory

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St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters

Two brilliant try saving tackles by the Dragons fullback played a huge role in ensuring the hosts a 16-10 victory - and a keeping them in the box seat for the minor premiership.

The Dragons opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Elsie Albert received a crash ball and she smashed through the marker defence to score on the right side. Keeley Davis failed to convert.

In the 17th minute the Roosters looked to score when Isabelle Kelly got a great ball away despite being held in a group tackle, to Brydie Parker who scored in the left corner, but after the try was awarded the Bunker over-ruled the decision after finding a small obstruction in the leadup.

10 minutes later the Roosters had a second try disallowed when Olivia Kernick crashed over the line but planted the ball on Holli Wheelers foot.

Jessica Sergis made a break 3 minutes before halftime and looked set to score but Emma Tonegato made a superb tackle around the legs that not only denied the Roosters a try, but also put Sergis into touch. At halftime the Dragons lead 4-0.

In the first minute after play resumed, Leianne Tufuga took a clean intercept and raced 25 metres before Tonegato made another great try saving tackle.

The Dragons extended their lead in the 39th minute when Kody House ran a strong line back towards the posts, received an inside ball from Taliah Fuimaono and scored a good try. Davis failed to convert again.

Just three minutes later the Dragons scored again when Fuimaono found Tonegato on the inside and the Dragons fullback scored a clever try. Wheeler had the shot at goal this time but she too was unable to add the extras.

The Roosters finally got on the board in the 48th minute when Olivia Higgins at dummy half shifted left, dummied and then dropped a crash ball underneath to Sarah Togatuki who plowed through the markers to score a powerful try. Zahara Temara converted.

Four minutes later, the Roosters very nearly scored again when a Temara grubber was contested for and ultimately knocked on by Baxter under the posts.

In the 63rd minute Madison Bartlett took a clean intercept and raced 65 metres to score untouched. Davis failed to convert.

Davis very nearly scored from dummy half with 3 minutes left in the game. It was the Roosters though who would score last, when Racene McGregor got a good ball to Kelly who sliced through the Dragons edge defence and ran 30 metres to score. Hannah Southwell failed to convert from the right sideline.