WESTS TIGERS 22 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 24
IAN HOWE, Commbank Stadium, Sunday

THE DRAGONS continued their late-season resurgence, surviving a late comeback from the Tigers to register their fourth win of the year with the promise of better things to come under their recently-appointed coach Dean Young.

Although Wests opened the scoring when Sunia Turuva touched down in the right corner and Adam Doueihi converted from the touchline, the Dragons then took control with three first-half tries from winger Tyrell Sloan, as well as their outstanding young forward Hamish Stewart and centre Moses Suli, the first converted by Kyle Flanagan with Valentine Holmes converting the other two after returning from an HIA absence.

In the second half the Tigers pulled a converted try back when Doueihi burst into space and linked with Alex Seyfarth, who fed Samuela Fainu for the touchdown.

St George responded, however, when Sloan broke the line and kicked infield with great precision and Lyhkan King‑Togia chased the ball to touch it down for Holmes’ conversion to restore a twelve‑point lead.

The Tigers refused to surrender, however, and replied with two late tries, both of them going to debutant Solomone Saukuru, but Doueihi could crucially only convert the second of them.

Although the Tigers attacked for a final time with seconds remaining, an error gave the Dragons possession and the match.

TIGERS: 1 Jahream Bula, 2 Junior Tupou, 3 Solomone Saukuru, 4 Patrick Herbert, 5 Sunia Turuva, 6 Jarome Luai, 7 Adam Doueihi, 8 Terrell May, 9 Api Koroisau, 10 Fonua Pole, 11 Samuela Fainu, 12 Tony Sukkar, 15 Sione Fainu. Subs: 14 Heath Mason, 16 Alex Seyfarth, 17 Bunty Afoa, 18 Tristan Hope (not used), 19 Faaletino Tavana, 20 Javon Andrews (not used)

Tries: Turuva (16), S Fainu (49), Saukuru (71, 76); Goals: Doueihi 3/4

DRAGONS: 19 Mathew Feagai, 5 Tyrell Sloan, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 18 Daniel Atkinson, 6 Lyhkan King-Togia, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 14 Jacob Liddle, 10 Emre Guler, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 2 Setu Tu (not used), 9 Damien Cook, 15 Toby Couchman, 16 Jacob Halangahu, 17 Jacob Webster, 21 Blake Lawrie (not used)

Tries: Sloan (22), Stewart (32), Suli (38), King-Togia (59); Goals: Flanagan 1/1, Holmes 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 6-18; 12-18, 12-24, 16-24, 22-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tigers: Api Koroisau; Dragons: Ryan Couchman

Penalty count: 2-2; Half-time: 6-18; Referee: Peter Gough; Attendance: 9,773