Dragons succumb to Roosters in home opener

Teagan Berry pulled off a miraculous try-saver in the early goings knocking the ball free of a charging Aliyah Nasio who poured through a hole off Jocelyn Kelleher and looked certain to nab opening points if not for the No.1’s effort.

Isabelle Kelly would not be denied moments later however diving over off a Nasio offload to make it 4-0 to the visitors just 10 minutes into the contest.

Stinging defence courtesy of Keele Browne and Hannah Southwell helped see the Dragons enjoy the ascendancy over the next little period but the defending premiers found ways to repel the home side’s attack.

A Margot Vella break from inside her own half saw the Red V storm onto the attack and they were able to puncture the Roosters defensive line off it with Berry muscling her way over out of acting half to add to her all-time leading try tally and tie things at four-apiece.

Berry went close to a second off a well-placed Raecene McGregor grubber, but Rima Butler was able to get to the ball first to ground it in-goal.

Trinity Tauaneai and Zali Hopkins both went close off the repeat set, but the Roosters again showed plenty of desperation to hold the hosts out.

Video officials denied Berry a second try prior to the half off a Kasey Reh kick with it ruled that the Dragons fullback knocked the ball on mid-air.

Back-to-back penalties sent the Roosters back down the other end with Amber Hall crashing over off a neat set play to make it 8-4 headed into the sheds.

McGregor’s boot produced a result for the Red V early in the second stanza with Basham coming through to pounce on a well-weighted grubber which had wrongfooted Kelleher for the first try of her NRLW career.

McGregor’s conversion cannoned off the left upright and over to give the Dragons their first lead of the encounter.

Buoyed by three penalties in the space of two minutes, the Roosters found a response through debutante Logan Fletcher in the northeastern corner to make it 14-10.

Browne was held up over the line after reeling in a pinpoint Reh kick with 16 minutes on the clock.

Hannah Southwell was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Kelleher the next set as the Red V found themselves further under the pump.

Olivia Kernick dove over for the Roosters to the right of the posts several plays later to extend their lead out to double figures.

Jessica Sergis went over for the Roosters again soon after but was denied on account of a forward pass.

The Dragons lost their Captain’s Challenge in an attempt to overrule a knock-on call several plays later as the Roosters received another attacking chance.

Keeley Davis burrowed her way over out of dummy-half to grow the lead further and ensure that the two competition points would belong to the visitors.