Drought-breaking Dragons knock-out Knights

The Dragons bounced back into the top eight today at sunny Kogarah with a huge 46-24 win over the Newcastle Knights in front of 10,000 fans.

Newcastle set the tone of the day early with Kade Snowden spilling the ball on just the second tackle - and the Dragons quickly took advantage. Before you could blink, they led 12-0 and the Knights' "new era" under interim coach Danny Buderus looked dark to start.

To their credit though, the Novocastrians didn't lay down. They put on 20 points between then and halftime, wresting back the momentum to score four tries and stun the bumbling Dragons. Tyrone Roberts' goalkicking woes proved costly as the Dragons were then able to draw within a converted try by kicking a penalty goal just before the break through their comparatively perfect kicker in Gareth Widdop.

Trailing by six at halftime, the Dragons burst out of the blocks just as they did at the start of the match. Gareth Widdop and Tyson Frizell both bagged four-pointers (both made into six by Widdop) to push the hosts to the lead by six, before the Knights struck back through Tyler Randell.

A tense finish seemed likely until the Dragons scored one of the more amazing tries of the year through Benji Marshall, going through several sets of hands including Benji himself earlier on in the play. The home side capitalised in the remaining time, with Will Matthews and Josh Dugan putting a nice big full stop on a convincing performance.

Next week the Dragons are off to the New Zealand capital of Wellington where they'll face a struggling Warriors outfit, while the Knights are at home to the Roosters to celebrate Indigenous round.

Match Details

St. George Illawarra Dragons 46 Newcastle Knights 24
Venue: Jubilee Oval
Crowd: 10236
Halftime Score: St. George Illawarra Dragons 14 Newcastle Knights 20

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (46)
Tries: Josh Dugan (2), Gareth Widdop, Mitch Rein, Tyson Frizell, Benji Marshall, Will Matthews
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (7/7)
Penalty Goals: Gareth Widdop (2/2)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (24)
Tries: Kurt Gidley, Adam Clydsdale, Jake Mamo, Nathan Ross, Tyler Randell
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (2/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Gareth Widdop
2 points - Benji Marshall
1 point - Josh Dugan

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Kogarah where the St George Illawarra Dragons will look to break their seven game losing streak at home against the embattled Newcastle Knights who are also desperate for a win and two competitions points.

We're underway on a sunny and warm Sunday afternoon

UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Kade Snowden makes an unforced error.
Bad start for the Knights. Snowden loses the ball in the tackle

2: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
Benji goes to the air and Dugan plucks it out of the air and plants it down. Great start for the home side.

2: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts from in front

4: Marshall throws a ball which is intercepted. Knights ball 30m out from the Dragons line. Now a penalty for Newcastle. They're on the attack

5: Roberts grubber bounces well for Dugan and he's tackled a metre out from his own line

7: Tuimavave's kick is too deep as it goes dead in goal after a great Knights set which had a disappointing ending.

7: Dragons penalty wih the Knights hanging around the tackle for too long

9: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Mitch Rein. Kick to come.
Thompson gets a brilliant short ball and he gets through a gap and his attempted offload is touched backwards by Mamo and the bounce of the ball favours Rein and he puts his hand on the ball for a four pointer

9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts next to the posts

10: Knights penalty and they can start a set on halfway

12: Ah Mau collects Snowden high.

12: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Kurt Gidley. Kick to come.
Gidley has another in Knights colours after Smith found a gap and offloaded for Gidley who has a free run to the line.

13: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Roberts sneaks his conversion inside the far post.

15: Knights doing well to keep the Dragons inside their own half and Rein is forced into an error.

17: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Adam Clydsdale. Kick to come.
Clydsdale goes himself from dummy half and then goes for a 2nd effort to get the ball over the try line and the try is awarded.

18: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Roberts converts. Scores level at 12

19: Tuimavave goes to the air and the bomb is taken safely.

21: Great take from Dugan and to get his foot back in goal for a 20m tap

22: Tuimavave has intercepted a ball and is tackled

23: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Jake Mamo. Kick to come.
What a transformation this game has taken. Tuimavave intercepts a Benji pass and the Knights spread the ball with Gagai getting on the outside and offloading for Mamo who goes into score in the corner

24: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Roberts attempt fades late and misses to the left

25: Dugan spills a kick and luckily for him it is ruled backwards. Now Nightingale is tackled hard and has stayed down. There looks to be a crusher tackle and he's been dumped on his head. Penalty Dragons.

25: Another penalty for the home side with the Knights inside the 10

27: A set move for the Dragons doesn't go to plan with Marshall knocking on a Widdop reverse pass

29: Gagai loses the ball in the tackle but it's called as a penalty. Knights back on the attack

31: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Nathan Ross. Kick to come.
The debutant gets a try after Newtown offloaded with Tapine tapping back for Mata'utia who gets it to Ross who scores in the corner

32: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Roberts misses his sideline attempt

35: Widdop chips behind the defence and the bounce sits up and there is a pass called forward. Knights ball

36: Roberts kicks into touch 10m out from the Dragons line

37: Not a good half for Marshall wih his kick smothered and the Knights diving on the loose ball

38: Gagai kicks for himself then gets it back via a ricochet but is put down on the last. Hand over

39: Dragons have made a line break with Garvey going through then it was Scott who caught a pass from an offside position

40: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Penalty goal attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
It was an unpopular decision but Widdop adds an extra two to his team's score.

40: Half time with the Knights leading by six points. It was all the Dragons for the first 10 minutes but the Knights got on top and they go to the sheds with the lead

40: Back underway

42: Dragons penalty and they can start a set on halfway

43: Dugan does well to get on the end of a second man play and he is tackled hard to the turf and he loses the ball

43: Knights have lost the ball from the scrum base. Bad mistake. Dragons get a chance now

44: Mamo knocks down a pass with the Dragons spreading the ball.

44: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Gareth Widdop. Kick to come.
Widdop spots a gap and straightens up to score.

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts his own try and we are tied at 20

48: Marshall has made a break and Mata'utia has been tackled 10m out from the try line. Dragons penalty now after he was held down and there's a bit of push and shove

48: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Penalty goal attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop puts his team in front

51: Widdop kicks high to the wing and Mamo does well to take it.

54: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Tyson Frizell. Kick to come.
Ah Mau does well to break tackles as he is tackled just short of the line. Frizell then gets a lovely short ball from Widdop and he goes into score

55: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop goes to 6/6 for the afternoon

56: Dugan has been hit hard again by Smith this time and he stays down. The fullback looks to be playing injured.

56: Gidley does well to take a low kick aimed towards the posts and Newcastle work it away from their line

57: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Tyler Randell. Kick to come.
That's a brilliant solo try from Randell who picks up the loose ball on halfway and he sprints past the defence and gets around Dugan to score in the corner

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts unsuccessful.
Roberts misses from the sideline

60: Farrell gets a pass on the wing and kicks the ball which is smothered. Dragons ball

62: Nightingale decides to kick and it goes dead. 20m restart

62: Knights penalty with the Dragons not releasing.

64: Mamo is claiming a try and we are going upstairs.
NO TRY: Mamo has bounced the ball and not got enough pressure on it

65: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Benji Marshall. Kick to come.
Unbelievable. What a try. Benji Marshall regahers a ball which has been tapped back by Widdop he dummies to Nightingale passes to Widdop, Rein gets it and passes back behind him as he was going into touch and Benji jumps up to catch the ball and smashes the ball down. Try of the year contender right there.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts

69: Mamo has just been forced back into goal and the Dragons have a drop out.

69: Another trip to the video ref needed

69: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Will Matthews. Kick to come.
Widdop has a kick deflected and Matthews gets to it and just gets the ball down.

70: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop has 8/8 for today. His goal kicking has been exemplary

73: Dugan gathers in a Marshall chip and can't get a pass away and is tackled on the last.

75: Sims offloads a ball that goes straight to Ah Mau. He then gets it to Widdop who loses the ball.

77: Newcastle have a chance to attack and looked to score but Scott loses the ball in the tackle

79: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
Marshall throws a short ball to Dugan who strolls through a gap to put the icing on the cake for the Dragons

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
9/9 for Widdop

80: Full time at Kogarah with the Dragons running away with it at the end winning 46 points to 24.