Knock-On Effect NSW Cup: Red V comeback falls short in Newcastle

Lyhkan King-Togia was placed on report for a dangerous tackle in the opening set of the match with the Knights nabbing first points not long after through halfback Matthew Hunter.

They pushed further ahead moments later with Brodie Jones crashing over to the left of the sticks to make it a 12-point difference.

The hosts’ strong start to the clash persisted as they found their third try of the opening quarter through a hard-running Kyle McCarthy.

The Dragons found a needed try prior to the half-time siren with Christian Tuipulotu doing a terrific job to power his way over in the left-hand corner off a skilful Tyler Peckham-Harris cut-out. Peckham-Harris nailed the conversion to cut the deficit back to a dozen.

The visitors’ fightback received a welcome boost as Lyhkan King-Togia diving over off the back of a timely Jacob Halangahu offload to make it a one-score game with a half-hour to play.

Nathan Lawson went within inches of nabbing the Dragons’ third try of the evening off an aerial raid only to be dragged down short of the stripe.

The Knights went down the other end of the field and made the Red V pay with Wilson De Courcey shooting through to win the race to a Mitch Henderson grubber.

The Red V produced a miracle try shortly after to stay in reach embarking on a short-side raid down the left which ended up in the hands of David Fale who flung a speculator out the back which eventually bounced to Halangahu.

The Dragons skipper kept it alive with it eventually in the hands of front-rower Ryan Hutchinson who put in a cross-field kick which wrong-footed the Knights fullback and ended up in the arms of a chasing Ha’ele Finau who went over untouched.

Unfortunately for Willie Talau’s men, De Courcey’s try proved the difference as the hosts held on for a gritty win.