Roosters win back-to-back, Dolphins go down swinging

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Sydney Roosters v Dolphins

After a first half which ended with the Dolphins in the ascendency, the second half saw defence thrown in the bin as both sides combined to score a point a minute after the break.

The Roosters copped a heavy blow in the opening minutes of the game when Sandon Smith was fended off heavily by Herbie Farnworth. Smith banged his head on the ground and was ruled out for the rest of the game with a Grade 1 concussion.

It didn't stop the Roosters attack though and shortly after they opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Hugo Savala linked with Siua Wong, who got a fantastic flick out the back to James Tedesco. The fullback turned the ball inside to Robert Toia who skipped out of the cover tackle and scored on the right side. Savala failed to convert.

The Roosters crossed again 7 minutes later when Victor Radley ran onto a crash ball and barged over for a good try. Savala converted.

The Roosters extended their lead further in the 21st minute, going right-side again to Tedesco, who linked with Toia outside his defender. Toia then flicked a great ball out the back to Mark Nawaqanitawase who tiptoed down the sideline and scored a remarkable try. Savala's sideline conversion struck the upright and was waved away.

The Roosters produced a great run of fast passes near the Dolphins line just 3 minutes later which looked to produce a try for Zach Dockar-Clay, but the bunker picked up a little knock-on as he attempted to ground the ball. It was looking like the Roosters were going to run up a cricket score.

The Dolphins slowly got themselves back into the match and in the 36th minute they got on the board via Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who chased a bomb and plucked it out of the waiting arms of James Tedesco in the most perfectly timed run and catch. He strolled in for a brilliant try. Jamayne Isaako converted. On the stroke of halftime, Isaako landed a penalty goal to reduce the margin to 6 points.

4 minutes into the second half and the Roosters were awarded a scrum inside the Dolphins 20 metres. From the back of the scrum the Roosters went right to Tedesco who sweeped around the back as second receiver, drew the winger and then puts Nawaqanitawase in for the try. Savala converted.

3 minutes later, Savala put in a lovely grubber near the Dolphins line and Radley regathered to score. Savala added the extras.

in the 50th minute the Roosters crossed again. This time they went down the left edge where Daniel Tupou made a good run down the sideline before turning it inside to Connor Watson who just gets to the line to score. Savala converted. In the space of 8 minutes the Roosters had scored 18 points.

Ray Stone looked to have opened the scoring for the Dolphins in the second stint, but a last gasp tackle effort by Billy Smith saw his fingers do just enough to knock the ball loose just as Stone was about to fall over the line for a try.

It was just three minutes later that the Dolphins fightback began. A lovely outside-inside play saw Tabuai-Fidow beat the defence before racing 40 metres to score a good try. Isaako converted.

Two more minutes passed before the Dolphins were in again, this time courtesy of a great ball to Jack Bostock who improved the position before scoring. Isaako landed the conversion and the Dolphins trailed by 12 points with 11 minutes remaining.

Robert Toia sealed the game for the Roosters in the 73rd minute when he stepped his defender and darted in to score a good try. Savala failed to convert.

The Dolphins got a consolation try shortly after through some clever work by Kodi Nikorima. Isaako converted. At full time the Roosters ran out winners 36-26.