The St George Illawarra Dragons’ Jersey Flegg season has come to an end at the hands of the Bulldogs, going down 32-16 in the preliminary final at St. George Venues Jubilee Stadium.
Despite marching to the minor premiership in the New South Wales Rugby League Under-21s competition, the Dragons fell to the Panthers and Bulldogs in successive finals weeks to bow out of contention.
With usual halves Eden Hodges and Shadi Hammoud still missing and with winger Toby Rumble (suspended) and fullback Lucas Borg (injured at training) ruled out during the week, the Dragons were forced to field an unsettled unit.
Oliver Burton was moved to fullback, Tom Kirk started at centre, and Cornelius Pupualii was drafted onto the wing.
The lack of time together showed up in an inability to score enough points in the opening quarter despite dominating possession and territory, which ultimately hurt the home side.
Match: Dragons v Bulldogs
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Dragons
1st Position
away Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
Venue: St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Kye Andrews opened the scoring for the Dragons, fishing off a quick shift to the right corner in the seventh minute.
Ben Jackson compressed the defence with some damaging runs up the middle before the quick shift caught the Bulldogs short to set up a 4-0 lead.
To their credit, the Bulldogs then absorbed sustained goal-line pressure from the Red V for a solid 15-minute stretch, turning the Dragons away numerous times, before finally getting a chance to use the football themselves.
They didn’t waste it.
Chase Paterson collected a grubber on the left edge to open the scoring for the Dogs in the 24th minute, with Bronson Reuben’s conversion giving them a 6-4 lead.
In the very next set, the Bulldogs shifted the ball right from deep inside their own territory, unleashing winger Cheldon Hayward down the touchline. Hayward kicked inside as the cover defence converged, and fullback Latrell Fing collected the ball and streaked away to extend the lead to 12-4.
Their points blitz wasn’t finished yet. Hooker Paterson made a bust up the middle before finding prop Bud Smith on the inside in the 31st minute for another converted try.
And two minutes from halftime, Lachlan Mifsud appeared to drop the ball over the line but was controversially awarded the points to push the advantage to 22-4 at the break.
Two more tries after halftime to Sosaia Alatini and Hayward pushed the Bulldogs lead out to 30-4 before the Dragons found their second try through Daniel Meafou.
Marley McLaren added the extras, but any thought of a comeback was short-lived as the Bulldogs defence remained steadfast and only a late consolation try to Clay Baldock and a penalty goal for Reuben moved the final score to 32-16.
