Captain America's Roosters Win Battle Of The Super Heroes

The Sydney Roosters have over-powered the St George Illawarra Dragons tonight in front of 13083 fans at Allianz Stadium.

The match was built as the battle of the super heroes in the lead up with both teams donning their specially designed Marvel super hero jerseys, with the Roosters representing Captain America and the Dragons wearing their Iron Man strip.

It was the Dragons who came out firing with all the quality ball in the opening ten minutes but the Roosters defence proved too strong and it was the home team who ended up scoring first points. In his first game back from injury since Origin Two, Michael Jennings came down with the ball from a Maloney bomb to score under the posts in the 10th minute. With the successful conversion from Maloney, the Roosters took the early lead 6-0.

The Roosters were unable to consolidate the try though with hooker Jake Friend throwing a forward pass in the ensuing set. The Dragons wasted no time hitting back after flying winger Brett Morris pounced on a Gareth Widdop grubber. Widdop missed the conversion but the Dragons were back in the contest.

After some solid defence of their own in the next ten minute period the Dragons would take the lead for what proved the only time of the night with second-rower Joel Thompson storming through a hole opened up by the ball playing of Widdop. There was no mistake with this conversion from Widdop giving his team a 10-6 lead.

The home team would hit back next through Nene McDonald who took advantage from some quick hands from Tuivasa-Sheck and Jennings to cross in the corner in the 33rd minute. Maloney nailed the sideline conversion as though he was shooting arrows, giving his side an eventual 12-10 half-time lead.

After some missed opportunities in the first half through some poor execution, the Roosters attack looked much more settled early in the second stanza and they were quick to capitalize. Back-rower Aiden Guerra charged onto a short ball from Pearce to plant the ball down with some fingertip control in the 46th minute. Maloney added the extras and the Roosters had a handy eight point lead.

The game would flow from end to end for the next fifteen minutes with both teams having chances but it was the speed of Jennings who would score next after pouncing on a grubber in the in goal from Maloney to grab his second try of the evening in the 61st minute. Maloney again converted for what looked a strong fourteen point lead.

Dragon's halfback Benji Marshall would give his team a glimmer of hope after turning on his Iron Man jets to show a bit of the old 'Benji magic' slicing through from twenty metres out and showing some good pace to cross in the 70th minute. Widdop reduced the deficit to eight with his conversion.

The Roosters would snuff out any hope of a comeback moments later though with Friend burrowing over to send the lead out to fourteen again.

Dragon's centre Josh Dugan capped off a strong game with a consolation try in the last minute running onto a long ball from Marshall.

The Roosters will enjoy a nine day turn around before they host what will be a desperate Gold Coast Titans outfit at Allianz Stadium next Monday night, while the Dragons will return home looking for a much needed victory against the Penrith Panthers next Sunday.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (30)
Tries: Michael Jennings (2), Nene Macdonald, Aidan Guerra, Jake Friend
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (5/5)
Penalty Goals:

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (22)
Tries: Brett Morris, Joel Thompson, Benji Marshall, Josh Dugan
Field Goals:
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (3/4)
Penalty Goals:

It's Marvel Super Heroes round in the NRL this week and tonight from Allianz Stadium two of The Avengers greatest go toe to toe in what should be an epic battle. Captain America's Sydney Roosters will host Iron Man's St George Illawarra Dragons.

The glory bound rounds are well and truly upon us now with every match crucial in the run home to the finals. The Roosters will be looking to move back into the top four with a win tonight, whole the Dragons can move into the top eight.

Team sheets are in and the Roosters are 1-17 as named on Tuesday.
For the Dragons Bronson Harrison drops off the bench with Shane Pumipi taking his spot in jersey 18

1: The Dragons in their Iron Man strip taking the field

1: Roosters in their Captain America strip running out

1: Were under way at Allianz with Roosters getting 1st use

2: PENALTY Dragons, Roosters offside

3: Another penalty for the Dragons & theyl get 1st chance to attack

4: Dragons get another set, regathering after a grubber bounces off Jennings

5: Roosters hang on. Marshall threw a wayward pass & Jennings scoops it up

6: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
James Maloney makes an unforced error.
Forward pass from dummy half, more pressure...

7: De Belin is hit in a solid tackle & coughs up the pill

8: Mike Cooper picks up Moa in a crunching tackle

9: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Gareth Widdop makes an unforced error.
Marshall switched it to the left & Widdop puts it down in good field position

10: VIDEO REF possible Roosters try to Jennings...

10: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Maloney puts up the bomb & Jennings comes down with it to score under the posts

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney adds the easy conversion

12: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Jake Friend makes an unforced error.
Another forward pass from dummy half. Dragons ball 35 out from Roosters line

14: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
Morris dives on the loose ball after Widdop grubbered it into the in goal

15: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
Widdop hooks it to the left

16: Marshall makes a break running onto a Dugan offload

17: PENALTY Roosters. Widdop put a bomb up but the Dragons give the penalty away

18: Another Penalty with a good chance for the Roosters to attack

19: Moa puts down a flat ball on the line from Jake Friend

20: Minichiello takes a good catch on the fly taking it above his head

21: Maloney sends it sky bound again but Nightingale takes a good catch on his own line

22: PENALTY Dragons & Morris takes the quick tap

23: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Joel Thompson. Kick to come.
Thompson hits a whole on the left running onto a Widdop pass

24: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop makes no mistake with this one

26: Widdop kicks to the corner & Minichiello brings it back off his line

26: Nightingale takes another bomb

28: Change over for the Roosters 5m on their side of halfway after Widdop tried a little stabbing kick in behind the line

29: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
James Maloney makes an unforced error.
Maloney throws one into touch and the timing in attack is off again

30: Big yards down the right from Nightingale, here come the Dragons...

30: Marshall kicks for the corner but it just rolls dead. 20m tap Roosters

31: PENALTY Roosters, for a lifting tackle from Will Matthews

31: Roosters a chance to attack

33: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Nene Macdonald. Kick to come.
TRY for McDonald after some good hands from Tuivasa-Sheck & Jennings on the inside

34: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney from the sideline puts his team in front

36: Good yards for the Roosters & Quinlan comes up with a great catch from a bomb under pressure to save his team

36: Widdop again tries a short kick behind the line but again it fails, good chance for the Roosters again

38: RTS grubbers it & the Dragons knock it forward after scooping up the loose ball. Scrum Roosters 15m out from Dragons line

39: Guerra puts down a bullet like pass from Maloney

40: the ball is batted down from SKD & the Dragons wil get a scrum 35m out from Roosters line

40: Marshall kicks from the scrum but Minichiello cleans it up

40: HALF TIME at Allianz & Captain America will take bragging rights into the sheds with the boot of James Maloney giving them a narrow lead. The Dragons are looking good throwing plenty at the Roosters but the home teams defence has kept them in it. They will be hoping their timing in attack can click in the second half.

40: Players coming back out for the 2nd half

41: Back under way with Merrin bringing it back

41: Good field position for the Roosters early taking the ball back on their own 40m line

41: Nightingale again under the high ball, why keep kicking to him??

41: Marshall kicks straight down the throat of RTS

41: Nightingale takes the Pearce bomb. Dragons 20m tap

45: Widdop puts it high but the Roosters come up with it making some good metres through McDonald & Minichiello

45: VIDEO REF possible Roosters try

45: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Aidan Guerra. Kick to come.
Guerra plants it down with finger tip control just getting part of the ball on the stripe

49: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney kicks it from just to the right

51: A good set to follow up but the Dragons clean up a Maloney bomb & a penalty for the Dragons now, their ball from half way

52: Repeat set for the Dragons after Pearce cleans up a Widdop kick & is forced back in goal

54: Dugan throws a desperation pass back on the inside before being bundled into touch but Cordner comes up with it for the chooks

55: Dragons back in possession 25m out

55: Widdop grubbers through & Minichiello cleans it up

56: Quinlan takes a Maloney bomb 15m out from his own line

57: a good kick from Widdop finding touch 10m out from Roosters line

58: Maloney again sends it high & Nightingale again takes it safely...

59: Mitch Rein kicks from dummy half lookin for a 40/20, but McDonald cleans up

60: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes an unforced error.
SKD runs out of room & tries to pass back on the inside to no avail

61: Moa sits Widdop on his backside with the brute force of Captain America in that tackle!

62: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Jennings grabs his 2nd diving onto a Maloney grubber

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney keeps his perfect record in tact tonight giving his team a 14 point buffer

65: Pearce puts it down from the kick off!

67: Guerra charges it down & nearly runs the length but Rein comes up with a stunning tackle

68: Dragons penalty & they have it 40 out from Roosters line

69: 20m tap for the Roosters after it just goes dead with Dugan in pursuit

69: Nightingale again under the high ball

70: PENALTY Dragons, high shot from JWH

72: POSSIBLE Dragons try after a bit of old school Benji Magic...

72: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Benji Marshall. Kick to come.
Benji slices through from 20 out & showed he still has a bit of pace or was it Iron Man's jets getting him over...

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop adds the extras

73: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Joel Thompson makes an unforced error.
Thompson puts down a Benji bullet pass

74: VIDEO REF possible Roosters try

73: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Jake Friend. Kick to come.
Friend burrows over from dummy half

73: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney makes no mistake from close range

74: Dragons try the short kick off but Mini comes up with it

75: Quinlan with another good catch under pressure

76: Dugan sends Quinlan through who puts it on the toe but McDonald cleans up for the Roosters

78: Dugan makes a break down the right & offloads for Widdop who is brought down just short of the line. & a penalty to the Dragons

79: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
Dugan charges onto a long ball from Marshall to score

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts

79: FULL TIME & the Roosters proved too strong in the end & move back into the top four with that win. Thanks for joining us folks. Stay tuned for the match report which should fly onto your screens soon..