The St George Illawarra Dragons have today defeated the Parramatta Eels 12-10 in their final round of the Rangitoto Pool clash in the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines at Eden Park.
Captain Benji Marshall led the way for the Dragons setting up two tries and scoring one himself in the three tries to two victory, over the Pool leaders.
Winger Kiti Glymin opened the scoring for the Dragons diving on an in-goal grubber kick from Marshall. Marshall missed the conversion, the Dragons taking the early 4-0 lead.
A forward pass on our own try line gifted possession to the Eels in the final minute of the first half and the Eels capitalised with Chris Sandow shifting the ball wide to Sami Radradra who crossed in the corner. Sandow converted to give the Eels the lead 6-4 at half time.
The Eels extended their lead just after half-time after Eels Joseph Paulo put Tepai Moeroa through a hole who found Sandow who throw a long pass out to Reece Robinson and he crossed in the corner. Sandow missed the conversation. The Eels taking the six point lead, 10-4.
Marshall then took control and created and overlap on the right for Shannon Crook to score and then Marshall put Eto Nabuli away down the left and backed up to cross himself to put the Dragons in front 12-10 with two minutes left to play.
Crook and Josh Dugan missed the conversion attempts and the Dragons held the two point lead to defeat the previously undefeated Eels 12-10.
Two wins from three games in the Rangitoto Pool was not enough for the Dragons to progress to the quarter finals with the Eels and Knights, who also had two wins, progressing with the superior points differential.
Dragons 12 defeated Eels 10
Dragons
Tries: Glymin, Crook, Marshall
Goals: 0
Eels 10
Tries: Radradra, Robinson
Goals: Sandow
