ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 14 NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 15
CALLUM WALKER, WIN Stadium, Saturday
COMETH the hour, cometh the man as Luke Metcalf stepped up with a late field-goal to ensure the Warriors took two points back to New Zealand in a hard-fought win over St George.
The Warriors halfback registered eleven of the visitors’ 15 points with a just triumph for Andrew Webster’s men, who led for the majority of the 80 minutes.
In fact, Metcalf broke the deadlock after just eight minutes, converting his own try before adding a penalty moments later as the Warriors ran into an 8-0 lead.
Taine Tuaupiki rubbed salt into the Dragons’ wounds barely minutes after, and though Metcalf missed that conversion from out wide, the halfback was on target with another penalty on the half-hour mark.
Only once 14-0 down did St George finally muster an attack that yielded points, captain Clint Gutherson taking some joy into half-time for the hosts.
Valentine Holmes couldn’t add the goal, but he did convert Dylan Egan’s four-pointer following the resumption to bring the Dragons back to within four at 14-10.
And when Corey Allan registered his first try since tearing his ACL, the Dragons were level.
But, try as they might, St George were cut down by Metcalf who landed the winning point ten minutes from time.
DRAGONS: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Tyrell Sloan, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Corey Allan, 6 Kyle Flanagan, 7 Lyhkan King-Togia, 8 Toby Couchman, 9 Damien Cook, 10 David Klemmer, 12 Jaydn Su’a, 16 Luciano Leilua, 13 Hamish Stewart. Subs (all used): 11 Dylan Egan, 14 Jacob Liddle, 15 Jack De Belin, 17 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
Tries: Gutherson (39), Egan (49), Allan (52); Goals: Holmes 1/3
WARRIORS: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Taine Tuaupiki, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 10 Mitchell Barnett, 9 Wayde Egan, 17 Bunty Afoa, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark. Subs (all used): 8 Jackson Ford, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 18 Te Maire Martin
Tries: Metcalf (8), Tuaupiki (16); Goals: Metcalf 3/4; Field-goals: Metcalf (70)
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-8, 0-12, 0-14, 4-14; 10-14, 14-14, 14-15
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Jaydn Su’a; Warriors: Luke Metcalf
Penalty count: 7-6; Half-time: 4-14; Referee: Liam Kennedy; Attendance: 12,919