Roosters Outlasted by Dragons in Clunky ANZAC Day Affair

Both sides began proceedings at an overcast Sydney Cricket Ground filled to the brim, with the Easts chant in full swing from the opening set, with Tedesco diffusing a 40/20 and 20/40 attempt from Ben Hunt. 

The Roosters' talisman was then flung to the ground in a chaotic tackle from Dragons centre Zac Lomax, garnering a penalty for the men in Bondi Blue, but their enthusiasm saw the ball go to ground close to the line soon after. 

A kick out on the full from the Dragons saw play restart on the halfway for the Red, White and Blue, and while the Roosters got a result after forcing a line drop out from a Luke Keary kick, the home side's defence forced Paul Momirovski into touch.

A dubious penalty in the ruck then gave the Red V further territory, which was enough for Francis Molo to open the scoring after charging through the defence and crossing under the posts.

After a tense first fifteen minutes, the Dragons took a 6-nil lead following Lomax's conversion.

Further ill-discipline from the Dragons resulted in Sam Walker taking the brunt of swinging arm, and while teenage half was able to take advantage of numbers to swoop in to open the Roosters' account, the try was denied as the Bunker had identified an obstruction.

A lost ball in the ruck saw the Roosters lose their Captain's Challenge after trying to overturn the call, and the deficit extended as a crossfield kick was swooped on by Jaydn Su'A following a confirmation from the Bunker. 

With less than fifteen minutes remaining in the first half, the Roosters had a 12-nil hill to climb. 

Needing to dig deep and gain the ascendency, Trent Robinson's men added some much-needed physicality to their brand, with Siosiua Taukeiaho, Sitili Tupouniua and Victor Radley making powerful charges downfield.

A sidestepping Walker and burrowing Verrills were unable to put the Roosters on the board, before Joseph Suaalii saved the day on the other side of the field as a brutal hit forced an error on a runaway Jack Bird.

Radley found himself into open pasture with the crowd rising to their feet, but after the pass called forward, Easts found themselves defending in their own half as the clock continued to tick down.

The scoreline extended further as a tackle on a player without the ball saw the Dragons opt for a penalty goal, and the sides headed into the hallowed SCG sheds with the Roosters needing to overcome a 14-nil deficit. 

The Tricolours returned to the second half with plenty of intent, charging their way downfield to finish their opening set in opposition territory, with both sides swooping on wayward offloads as they looked to chance their arm.

A breakdown in communication saw Tedesco clean up the pill to streak downfield before a left-side swing saw Sitili Tupouniua burst through the defence to open the side's account.

After 48 minutes played, the Roosters' deficit closed to eight points following Sam Walker's conversion.

Just as they had looked to have gained the ascendency, Easts' momentum swung 180 degrees as a lost ball from the kick-off gave the Dragons a scrum 20 from the line, but the Bondi Wall held strong before a penalty sent the side downfield.

The left side continued to threaten as the likes of Luke Keary, Tupouniua and Momirovski questioned the defence on multiple occasions, but ill-discipline both with and without the ball continued to cruel the Tricolours heading into the final quarter of the match.

Tension began to grow within the SCG crowd as they anticipated the next scoring play, and while Joseph Manu provided the spark the Roosters needed with a barnstorming run, the play came undone when a grubber kick was cleaned up.

The resilience from the Roosters paid off soon after though, and their patience was rewarded with a forced drop out, but once again their chance was squandered as Lomax fell onto a loose pass.

Not to be deterred, the Roosters hit back through a right-side shift as Manu was rewarded as. he swan-dived over to score the side's next try, following a well-timed offload from his namesake in Joseph Suaalii.

With just under ten minutes remaining, Sam Walker's conversion sailed through the uprights to set up a grandstand finish.

Now with their newfound confidence, Easts threatened the line with each touch of the ball, and after Manu was through from the back of a Walker bullet pass, pressure continued to mount as the Dragons were forced to kick a line drop out.

Keary found himself forced into touch following a dazzling run, but the Bondi Wall shut down the Red V's attack with an incredible defensive set that saw the Roosters restart on halfway, but once again handling errors hurt the side's chances.

The killing blow came through a 40/20 from Hunt with minutes remaining saw the Dragons in striking distance of sealing the match, and a wild passage of play with a minute remaining saw the final bounce of the ball elude the Roosters, with the final scoreline reading 14-12 in favour of the Dragons. 

 

Sydney Roosters 12 (Sitili Tupouniua, Joseph Manu tries; Sam Walker 2 goals) def by St George Illawarra Dragons 14 (Francis Molo, Jaydn Su'A tries; Zac Lomax 2 goals; Zac Lomax penalty goal)