The St George Illawarra Dragons Under-20s side have thrashed the New Zealand Warriors 48-24 in a high scoring affair at UOW Jubilee Oval, Kogarah on Sunday afternoon.
The Red V scored eight tries with halves Tristan Sailor and Jackson Willis instrumental in the side's 24-point victory, despite the visitors early 10-nil.
The Warriors went back-to-back to open the game but four penalties in a minute of play gifted the Dragons an opportunity to bounce back with Willis throwing the dummy and charging over the line.
Prop Matt Sheppard was able to break through the line in the 24th minute and stepped inside to level the game.
The Dragons clicked into gear when winger Matheson Johns scored thereafter, before Willis's second put the Dragons' lead out to 24-10 seven minutes before half-time.
A strong charge from Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita helped the Warriors hit back, though the Dragons scored again as the siren sounded through Gillard.
It got worse for the Warriors seven minutes into the second half when the Dragons converted another long range effort into points through Tristan Sailor.
Sailor was again in on the action for the Dragons' seventh of the day when he put back-rower Jayden Morgan into a hole on the right edge to stroll over untouched.
Sheppard's double came soon after before Warriors centre Melino Fineanganofo scored two late tries for the visitors to narrow the margin.
Dragons 48 (Jackson Willis 2, Matt Sheppard 2, Matheson Johns, Jason Gillard, Tristan Sailor, Jayden Morgan tries; Zac Lomax 8 goals) defeated Warriors 24 (Melino Fineanganofo, Lewis Soosemea, Kane Telea, Chanel Harris-Tavita, tries; Kane Telea 2 goals) at UOW Jubilee Oval. Half-Time: Dragons 30-16.
This article first appeared on NRL.com
