ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 14 CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 44
CALLUM WALKER, Allianz Stadium, Saturday

TEN tries were scored and three players were sent to the sin bin as Canterbury handed St George their 18th defeat of the campaign in a game that had just about everything.

Bronson Xerri, Matt Burton (twice) and Jacob Preston all crossed in the first-half for 24-0 half-time lead for the Bulldogs – even if Jonathan Sua spent ten minutes in the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle.

Valentine Holmes did manage to peg the visitors back on 48 minutes, but the ever-imperious Max King restored the Bulldogs’ 24-point lead before Lachlan Galvin got in on the act as the hour drew nearer, taking an inside pass from the sprinting Xerri.

Matt Burton was sent to the sin bin moments later for a professional foul after Lyhkan King-Togia was hauled down just metres short of the line.

With a man advantage, Mathew Feagai scored twice for the Dragons in almost identical fashion to make it 36-14, but Connor Tracey – off a superb one-touch pass from Preston – finished off a wonderful move to bring up 40 points for the visitors.

And there was still enough time for Stephen Crichton, whose kicking was perfect, to add a penalty on the hooter with Moses Suli in the sin bin for a professional foul.

DRAGONS: 1 Daniel Atkinson, 2 Mathew Feagai, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Tyrell Sloan, 6 Lyhkan King-Togia, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 9 Jacob Liddle, 15 Toby Couchman, 11 Dylan Egan, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Ryan Couchman. Subs: 14 Damien Cook, 16 Jacob Halangahu, 17 Jacob Webster, 18 Setu Tu (not used), 19 Josh Kerr, 20 Blake Lawrie (not used)

Tries: Holmes (48), Feagai (64, 69); Goals: Holmes 1/3; Sin bin: Suli (80) – professional foul

BULLDOGS: 1 Connor Tracey, 2 Jacob Kiraz, 3 Matt Burton, 4 Bronson Xerri, 22 Jonathan Sua, 6 Stephen Crichton, 7 Lachlan Galvin, 8 Max King, 9 Bailey Hayward, 10 Leo Thompson, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Jacob Preston, 13 Jaeman Salmon. Subs: 14 Kurt Mann, 15 Josh Curran (not used), 16 Harry Hayes, 17 Alekolasimi Jones, 19 Jake Turpin, 20 Sean O’Sullivan (not used)

Tries: Xerri (12), Burton (26, 37), Preston (29), King (53), Galvin (57), Tracey (75); Goals: Crichton 8/8; Sin bin: Sua (8) – dangerous tackle, Burton (63) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-24; 6-24, 6-30, 6-36, 10-36, 14-36, 14-42, 14-44

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Mathew Feagai; Bulldogs: Max King

Penalty count: 9-2; Half-time: 0-24; Referee: Liam Kennedy; Attendance: 14,711