The St George Illawarra Dragons National Youth Competition team opened their preseason campaign on a positive note defeating the Sydney Roosters 28-22 at WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah on Friday.
The Young Dragons took to the field in their first trial match of the campaign in a three stanza match scoring five tries with prop Wes Lolo claiming two.
Head Coaches Dean Young and Ben Hornby made no changes to the side with Matt Dufty slotting in at fullback for the first third and Sitiveni Moceidreke for the second third.
The home side started strong with a penalty three minutes in sending the boys to the 40 metre line in their own half.
Another penalty two minutes later 10 metres out from the Roosters tryline saw Dragons winger Will Tom open the scoring.
Dragons lock Jacob Host was unlucky with the conversion swinging wide to leave the score at 4-0.
A grubber kick from Adam Clune saw the Roosters caught behind their own tryline in the 10th minute to give the young Dragons another chance to expand their lead.
A line dropout in the 15th minute from the Roosters took fullback Matt Dufty on the chin rebounding forward resulting in a scrum.
The Roosters levelled the score when prop Braden Uele took an inside ball over the line in the 19th minute.
The young Roosters took the lead when Curtis Naughton successfully converted to take the score to 4-6.
The young Dragons took the ball the length of the field with two minutes to go in the first third before stumbling a metre out from the Roosters tryline.
Dragons second rower Jack Kavanagh jumped over the line on the halftime siren taking the score to 8-6.
Jacob Host was not unfortunate a second time, extending the Dragons’ lead to 10-8 with a successful conversion.
The second third saw the Dragons side switched from the “Red Team” to the “White Team”.
The Roosters came out firing in the second third with their fullback going over for four points in the 29th minute to level the score at 10-all.
Two minutes later the Roosters fullback converted to give them a two point lead.
A penalty in the 34th minute took the young Dragons 40 metres from the Roosters tryline.
Dragons second rower Wes Lolo looked to have taken the ball over for a try in the 37th minute but was ruled held-up by the referee.
There was no mistake the second time with Lolo giving the Dragons a two point lead in the 40th minute.
Dragons hooker Hayden McRae successfully converted from 10 metres out in front of the goal posts.
Two minutes later saw the young Dragons go in again with Adam Clune taking a quick pass over the line after McRae ran the ball 50 metres.
McRae kicked another successful conversion from the eastern sideline to take the Dragons lead to 22-12.
It was a seesaw game for the first 10 minutes of the final third before the Roosters broke the Dragons defence with prop Nicholas Mastrodeminico going over for a try in the 55th minute.
The Roosters were unsuccessful in their conversion attempt by winger Chevy Ellis allowing the Dragons to keep their lead at 22-16.
The 65th minute saw the young Dragons dominated with Wes Lolo taking the score to 26-16.
Dragons hooker Logan Harris was successful in his conversion giving the young side a comfortable 12 point lead with three minutes to go.
In the final minute Roosters lock Jakiel Fuimano took the ball over the line to take the visitors score to 20.
Roosters hooker Alex Thomas successfully converted from the western sideline to conclude the scoring at 28-22.
The St George Illawarra Dragons defeated the NYC Sydney Roosters 28-22.
St George Illawarra Dragons 28. Tries: Lolo W (2), Tom, Kavanagh, McRae. Goals: Host (1/2), McRae (2/2), Harris (1/1).
Sydney Roosters 22. Tries: Uele, Naughton, Mastrodeminico, Fuimano. Goals: Naughton (2/2), Ellis (0/1) Thomas (1/1).
