Dragons fall short vs. Dolphins

The Dolphins struck first just five minutes in as Connelly Lemuelu crafted a flick pass to Kodi Nikorima who summed things up and founding a supporting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to go over and make it 6-0.

Setu Tu managed a response for the Dragons off a nice, right-side shift with Clint Gutherson throwing the final pass.

Selwyn Cobbo was denied a try for the Dolphins shortly after with video officials ruling that the winger's arm had contacted the the touch in-goal line as he grounded the ball.

The Dragons nosed in front a quarter of the way in with Tyrell Sloan on the end of a nice Valentine Holmes as the latter nailed the conversion to make it 10-6.

Jack Bostock produced a timely offload to send Cobbo streaking away as the Dolphins locked things back up moments later.

Toby Couchman left the field for a HIA – which ruled him out of the match – seeing Jacob Halangahu come into the action.

The visitors wrestled back the lead prior to the break with Herbie Farnworth putting Ray Stone over off the break of a Kurt Donoghoe burst.

The Dragons showed some resolve defensively to start the second half but Cobbo was able to find his second after the Dragons' left edge was caught short.

The back-and-forth nature of the affair persisted an hour in with Clint Gutherson going over off the back of a Tyrell Sloan break.

The match turned again entering the home stretch with Isaiya Katoa knocking down a Dragons pass and taking off downfield to lay on a Thomas Flegler try.

Ryan Couchman found a late try for the Red V – his first of the season – but it proved too little for the home side.