ROUND 24
Sunday 21 Aug 2005
3:00PM

Scorers:
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 25
Tries: Thompson, Sims, Greenshields, Ryles
Goals: Ennis 4/4, Barrett 1/1 (FG)
PARRAMATTA EELS 22
Tries: Moi Moi, Cayless, Hindmarsh, Delaney
Goals: Burt 3/4

Venue: Oki (Kogarah) Jubilee Stadium
Crowd: 17,523
Referee: Paul Simpkins
Half time: Dragons 19-6

Live commentary:

A sellout crowd and standing room only at Oki Jubilee Stadium as this very important match is set to go as part of St George's 85 year anniversary celebration

0 min: Kick off in brilliant conditions for this all important match for both sides

5th min NEWS
A not so warm reception as Riddell has his first touch of the ball for the first time at the stadium since 2004.
A tentative start by both sides. No score so far in the match

10th min: NEWS
Both sides still feeling their way in the game. The anticipation around the stadium can almost be felt, waiting for that one crucial mistake. No score yet in the game

13th min: NEWS
Grothe (Eels) makes a break down the sideline. Best catches him and Simpkins calls what looks to be a premature tackle call as Best falls off the tackle. Grothe passes and is penalised. Dragons get a relieving penalty. 0-0

19th min: TRY - DRAGONS
A penalty to the Dragons is taken quickly by Bailey, catching out 2 Eels defenders. A solid set and a brilliant pass to Thompson by Barrett allows the 2nd rower over for his 7th try of the season. Ennis, not long on the field, converts. Dragons 6-0

25th min: NEWS
The Dragons steadily applying the pressure now, Smith starting to use his bench

26th min: NEWS
A break by Morris and Hindmarsh (Eels) had the Dragons defence stretched. The final pass to Perenara right on the line, goes astray

27th min: TRY - DRAGONS
Hightailing it down the other end of the field, the Dragons attack spreads the ball far and wide, the Eels defence at breaking point when Sims crosses the line after a short pass from Barrett. Ennis converts. Dragons 12-0

30th min: NEWS
Moi Moi (Eels) makes a mistake 20 metres out from the Dragons line allowing the Dragons excellent field position. Committed defence by the Eels, and they push Gasnier over the sideline from the scrum

33rd min: TRY - DRAGONS
Once again the Dragons allowed to run. A fast set with the Eels defence back -peddling continuously. Hornby puts a nice grubber into the in-goal. Moi Moi juggles and loses the ball, Greenshields nabs it to score the try. Ennis converts another. Dragons 18-0

37th min: TRY - EELS
A silly penalty by Greenshields (Dragons) right in front of the Eels posts. A quick tap by Marsh for the Eels and Moi Moi redeems himself for his earlier errors by using his strength to dive over the line under 3 defenders. Burt converts. Dragons 18-6

40th min: FIELD GOAL - DRAGONS
A solid set by the Dragons allows Barrett close enough to be confident of a field goal. Dragons 19-6

HALFTIME: The Dragons look confident and hungry. The Eels have the potential to come back in the 2nd half, but the way the home side are today, Parramatta face an uphill battle. Dragons 19-6

Second half underway..

45th min: NEWS
The Eels have come out firing, looking for the first points in the 2nd half. Back to back sets, however a soft finish on the 5th tackle diffuses any points. Creagh unlikely to return for the Dragons with a shoulder injury and Perenara out of the game for the Eels with an ankle injury

48th min: NEWS
Hindmarsh (Eels) penalised and doesn't take to it too kindly. A bit of pushing and shoving, but the penalty still stands. Dragons hold their halftime lead, 19-6

50th min: NEWS
A mistake by the Eels 10 metres out from the Dragons line allows excellent field position to the Dragons. The scrambling defence of the Eels holds out any scoring, just

54th min: TRY - EELS
Camped in the Eels 20 metres for the last few minutes, the defence of the Dragons was outstanding, but something had to give, and it did. After dropping the ball in an earlier set, Smith the Eels halfback, draws the defenders then gets the pass away to Cayless who crashes over to score. Burt converts. Dragons 19-12

58th min: TRY - EELS
A break down the sideline by Grothe allows the Parramatta side the options 30 metres out from their line. Morris looks set to kick but instead takes the ball to the line, with a flying Hindmarsh crashing through to run to the line and score. Burt misses the conversion. Dragons 19-16

62nd min: TRY - DRAGONS
The Dragons knew they had to score and that's exactly what they did. Timmins took the ball close to the line. The next tackle Ryles bashes through Smith after Bailey ran the decoy. The long arm of Ryles just managing to get the ball down. Ennis converts another. Dragons 25-16

69th min: NEWS
Crowd figure an impressive 17,523

70th min: NEWS
Parramatta running one out from the ruck at the moment, looking for something special. The Dragons defence unrelenting

73rd min: TRY - EELS
Grothe, brilliant under a high kick, set forth for the other end of the field. The momentum for the Eels carries on as the set continues. Riddell, on the field for 20 seconds, splits the field down the sideline and offloads 1-handed dragging a Dragons defender along for the ride. Burt is shadowed inside by Bailey, but Delaney, in the match for an injured Wagon, scores the try from the Riddell offload. Burt converts quickly. Dragons 25-22

78th min: NEWS
Moi Moi (Eels) makes the crucial error 20 metres out from the Dragons line, allowing the scrum to the home side. Barrett drops the ball on attack. Exciting finish coming up

FULLTIME. Dragons win 25-22 with the finish as exciting as they come as the Eels came so very close to scoring in the final seconds. A great finish to a great game.

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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - L Bailey (Dragons)
2 - J Ryles (Dragons)
1 - N Hindmarsh (Eels)
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