RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS:
Round 16 :
Dragons hold on to upset Manly
Written by: Ian Ritchie
July 1st 2007 05:11 PM

LINK TO MATCH PICS - CLICK HERE

Match summary
The Dragons have claimed a nailbiting 26-22 win over Manly at Oki Jubilee Oval this afternoon. The game was locked up a 6-all at halftime, and after the Dragons skipped out to a 26-12 lead the Sea Eagles stormed home but couldn’t get across the line and the valiant young Dragons held on for the win.

The Dragons opened the scoring with a penalty goal after 13 minutes for a high tackle. Following the theme of the game, Manly struck back relatively quickly with a try to Glenn Stewart. However, Chase Stanley created his own response for the Dragons even faster, setting up Jamie Soward to score only three minutes later.

The second half contained far more action.

Six minutes after halftime Adam Cutherbertson ran past the Dragons defence to put Manly back ahead, only to have the Dragons respond through Beau Scott three minutes later.

This time though, the Dragons did not allow Manly to strike back, and a Jamie Soward intercept put the Dragons up by six. Barely two minutes later after a Corey Payne break Ben Creagh was on the end of a grubber kick to put the Dragons up 22-12. With 13 minutes to go Beau Scott claimed his second try after the Ben Creagh recovered a bomb.

Manly struck back instantly, Nick Bradley-Qualiwawa scoring out wide after a short kickoff. The Dragons provided some brilliant scrambling defence in the dieing stages and managed to hold on despite a late Chris Hicks try.

Match Details
Round 16 - Full Time :: July 1st, 2007 03:00 PM
Venue: Oki Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer
Crowd: 11,958

St George Illawarra Dragons 26
Tries: Jamie Soward (2), Beau Scott (2), Ben Creagh
Goals: Jamie Soward (3/6)
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22
Tries: Glenn Stewart, Adam Cuthbertson, Nick Bradley-Qualiwawa, Chris Hicks
Goals: Matt Orford (3/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Ben Creagh (Dragons)
2 Points: Jamie Soward (Dragons)
1 Point: Rangi Chase (Dragons)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Good afternoon from the last game at Oki Jubilee for 2007. The Dragons are hosting the much favoured Sea Eagles today.

In Premier League, Balmain-Ryde-Eastwood defeated St George Illawarra 40-16.

Teams taking to the field now, very nice day in Sydney. Good crowd in.

1 min: Manly kick off!

1 min: A Hornby kick gets partially charged down, he knocks on trying to regather. A penalty puts Manly on attack 20 out.

3 min: The Dragons hold out after a Manly error.

5 min: The Dragons get six more tackles 10 out.

6 min: Soward can't control the ball chasing a kick into the in-goal.

8 min: Nightingale nearly makes an intercept, and loses it forward into the hands of Soward who races away thinking he'll score, but it is called back by Archer.

10 min: The Dragons hold out again, putting Manly over the sideline.

13 min: PENALTY GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
Jason King is penalised for a high tackle, Soward collects two points.
St George Illawarra Dragons 2-0

21 min: TRY Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Burns passes back into Glenn Stewart who bowls over two defenders and scores next to the posts. Conversion attempt by Matt Orford successful.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 6-2

22 min: Nightingale makes a great escape from the in-goal, but only two plays later the Dragons make an error only 10 out. The Manly chant goes up at Kogarah.

23 min: Watmough loses the ball on the second tackle, and is struggling with a leg injury.

24 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Chase Stanley breaks the Manly line on halfway and sets up Soward who scores in the left corner. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
6 all

30 min: The Dragons come up with the ball 30 out, before Menzies gives away a penalty. The Dragons go on attack 20 out.

31 min: The Dragons earn a drop out.

33 min: The Dragons drop the ball with a great try-scoring opportunity.

34 min: An Orford kick is charged down and the Dragons get the ball on halfway.

36 min: Another Dragons charge down puts the Saints on attack.

37 min: Houston drops the ball with the Dragons again looking certain to score.

39 min: Travis Burns knocks on on the second tackle 10 out from the Dragons line.

40 min: HALFTIME in a very sloppy game.

40 min: Back underway at Kogarah, Manly lose the ball 20 out and the Dragons go on attack.

42 min: Amazing defence keeps Chase out somehow, and then Chris Houston comes down with a bomb only to have it knocked out of his hands by Travis Burns.

44 min: Monaghan picks up a Dragons grubber and seamlessly passes the ball in another great defensive play.

46 min: TRY Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
After a Glenn Stewart strip, Cutherbertson spins through the defence and scores next to the posts. Conversion attempt by Matt Orford successful.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 12-6

48 min: Monaghan loses the ball after an offload, and the Dragons get a chance to respond.

49 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try...

49 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Beau Scott crashes across after a Danny Wicks offload. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
12 all

53 min: VIDEO REF - For a Travis Burns try...

53 min: NO TRY - Burns is ruled to have knocked on regathering the ball just short of the line.

56 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Manly try some second phase play, Robertson sends a bad offload to Soward who races away and scores under the posts. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 18-12

58 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons go back to back! Payne breaks up the middle and is dragged down short of the line, on the next play the Dragons put in a kick and Creagh dives on it out wide to score. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 22-12

60 min: BIFF - After a Manly high shot both sides look to have a bit of a fight.

62 min: Manly give away a penalty on the last tackle, and the Dragons go on attack 30 out.

63 min: Creagh can't ground the ball after collecting a chip/bomb.

64 min: Josh Morris knocks on collecting a downfield kick.

65 min: The Dragons defend well against Manly and the Eagles are penalised for tackling Nightingale in the air, despite that Nightingale made a great catch.

66 min: CROWD - 11,958

67 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try..

67 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Creagh challenges a bomb, flicks the ball back to Beau Scott who claims his second try of the day. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-12

68 min: Manly recover the short restart.

68 min: TRY Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly spread the ball left to a huge overlap and Nick Bradley-Qualiwawa scores in the corner. Conversion attempt by Matt Orford unsuccessful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-16
71 min: Robertson recovers a midfield bomb, offloads to Burns who is tackled metres out from the line.

72 min: The Dragons nearly score again, but get tackled on the last 5 metres out.

75 min: Manly get a drop-out.

77 min: VIDEO REF - For a Manly try...

77 min: TRY Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly break out, Chris Hicks scores in the corner. Conversion attempt by Matt Orford successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-22

79 min: Nightingale is penalised for a dangerous tackle, Manly are carving out wide.

80 min: Orford is tackled just short of the line and the Dragons get away with a win.

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