The Dragons got back on track with a 32-10 win over Newcastle in their Knock-On Effect NSW Cup clash at WIN Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Joseph O’Neill had a day out for the Red V having a hand in a number of the afternoon's four-pointers whilst fullback Tyler-Peckham Harris nabbed a second-half double.
Viliami Hikila, who has enjoyed a stellar year starting in the front-row for the club's ladder-leading Jersey Flegg side, made his competition debut becoming the 12th member of St George's 2024 SG Ball title-winning squad to progress up to the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Match: Dragons v Knights
Round 10 -
home Team
Dragons
3rd Position
away Team
Knights
6th Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
The Dragons enjoyed a dream start with the Knights unable to secure Tom Kirk's kick-off as it held up in the breeze.
Ha’ele Finau burrowed his way over out of dummy-half several plays later with Kirk knocking over the extras to make it 6-0.
The hosts marched back downfield moments later to extend their lead further with Cyrus Stanley-Traill poking his nose through and offloading to a supporting Joseph O’Neill who moved the ball back into his halves partner Nick Quinn to score.
The Dragons pushed further ahead 15 minutes in with Tyler Peckham-Harris picking up a Knights drop and sending Hayden Buchanan sprinting downfielf.
Buchanan was rounded up but a shift the following play saw Toby Rumble slice through to dive over for the hosts' third try of the afternoon.
The Dragons found another prior to the break with Daniel Meafou crashing through the line to dive over for the first try of his Knock-On Effect NSW Cup career.
The second stanza started in similar stanza as the first for the home side with Rumble streaking into space down the right-hand touchline off an O’Neill cut-out and sending the ball back inside to Peckham-Harris to score.
Newcastle rake Harrison Graham was binned for a late shot on O’Neill shortly after.
Ryan Hutchinson was helped from the field for the Dragons after a clearing Knights kick cannoned into his head.
The Knights found the next points through Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana who muscled his way through a hole to score.
O’Neill’s strong afternoon continued an hour in with the Dragons’ No.7 crafting a pinpoint chip back on his inside for Peckham-Harris to score and make it 32-4.
Newcastle managed their second with Ben Peni juggling the football and grounding it to the right of the posts to cut the deficit back to 22.
