ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 24 WESTS TIGERS 10
TOM SMITH, St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Saturday

VALENTINE HOLMES’ quick-fire double spearheaded the Dragons’ late stampede over the Wests Tigers to claim just their second win of the season. 

Following the early loss of Clint Gutherson to the sin bin for impeding Jock Madden in pursuit of a possible try, St George Illawarra trailed until deep into the second half thanks to Adam Doueihi’s brace either side of the break. 

But Holmes struck twice in three minutes before Mathew Feagai added icing on the cake of a rare Red V victory. 

The Tigers also lost hooker and captain Api Koroisau to a pectoral injury on a horror night for their top-eight aspirations. 

Doueihi notched the first points with Gutherson in the bin. 

But Sloan found the left corner for Saints’ reply, before Holmes added a penalty goal for a ruck infringement on the stroke of half-time. 

Doueihi scored a brilliant four-pointer soon after the restart, grounding his own kick inches from the dead-ball line. 

The visitors clung to their slender lead as the clock ticked down. 

However, Holmes capitalised on a Luciano Leilua charge in the 69th minute then nailed the sideline conversion for a slender advantage. 

And the two points were secured when Holmes touched down again and Feagai snaffled a Daniel Atkinson kick.

DRAGONS: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Setu Tu, 3 Mathew Feagai, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Tyrell Sloan, 6 Daniel Atkinson, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 14 Jacob Liddle, 15 Luciano Leilua, 16 Josh Kerr, 17 Emre Guler (not used), 18 Jacob Halangahu, 19 Lyhkan King-Togia (not used) 

Tries: Sloan (20), Holmes (69, 72), Feagai (77); Goals: Holmes 4/5; Sin bin: Gutherson (3) – professional foul

TIGERS: 1 Jahream Bula, 2 Sunia Turuva, 3 Heamasi Makasini, 4 Starford To’a, 5 Jeral Skelton, 6 Jock Madden, 7 Adam Doueihi, 8 Terrell May, 9 Api Koroisau, 15 Bunty Afoa, 11 Tony Sukkar, 12 Sione Fainu, 13 Alex Twal. Subs: 10 Fonua Pole, 14 Josese Lanyon, 16 Alex Seyfarth, 17 Latu Fainu (not used), 18 Faaletino Tavana, 19 Charlie Murray (not used) 

Tries: Doueihi (9, 48); Goals: Madden 1/1, Doueihi 0/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 4-4, 6-4; 6-10, 12-10, 18-10, 24-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Valentine Holmes; Tigers: Adam Doueihi 

Penalty count: 7-3; Half-time: 6-4; Referee: Todd Smith; Attendance: 12,431