Dragons Pathways Wrap: Rd 6

Willie Talau’s Dragons went down to the undefeated Roosters 46-10 in Woy Woy on Saturday despite another Jesse Williams double.

The hosts took a 22-0 lead into the break thanks to four-pointers to Enzo Griffier, Baxter Warner, De La Salle Va'a and Blake Steep.

Steep crossed for a second in the opening set of the second half before Williams got the Dragons on the board 41 minutes in.

He scored a second shortly after to improve his try tally to a dozen on the year before the Roosters improved the scoreboard with a late trio of tries.

The Steelers SG Ball side improved to 5-1 over the weekend coming away with a 36-24 win over the Warriors in Pukekohe.

The visitors overcame an early Warriors ambush thanks to a four-pointer to winger Toby Rumble.

Rumble’s wing partner Tom Kirk added to his impressive try tally soon after before Hayden Buchanan crossed the following set to earn the Steelers their first lead.

The contest’s back-and-forth nature continued through the second stanza with Hiraka Waitai-Haenga coming up with an answer for the hosts.

Back rower Jarrah Treweek came up with the response for the Steelers only for Warriors skipper Jacob Auloa to find his way over the stripe.

No.7 Aaymon Fitzgibbon nabbed a crucial try for the Steelers late before Rumble notched a second to seal a memorable win for Shaun Timmins’ men.

TARSHA GALE CUP

The Dragons Tarsha Gale Cup side went down to the Knights 54-4 in Newcastle on Saturday.

The hosts leapt out to a sizeable halftime lead thanks to doubles to Leelah Marks, Fane Finau, and Lilly McNamara.

The scoring continued into the second half with Makaah Darcy and Lailah Clark snagging tries and Finau notching a third before Dragons front rower Manaia Maxwell-Puohotaua crossed for her first try of the season 47 minutes in.

The Knights grabbed another try late to seal a comprehensive win on home soil.

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

The Dragons Harold Matthews Cup squad fell to the Roosters 46-16 on the Central Coast on Saturday.

Tries to Bailey Roberts-Lintmeijer, Thomas McKenna, and Rex Bassingthwaighte put the visitors on the back foot early before a Vito Afu try halted the bleeding temporarily.

Roberts-Lintmeijer grabbed a double prior to the break before teammate Eddy Cayless joined him on the scoresheet shortly after.

The Dragons responded through tries to centre Isaac Mikhail and halfback Riley Brannock only for three late tries – including Roberts-Lintmeijer’s third – securing the two points for the hosts.

The Steelers Harold Matthews Cup unit were unable to steal the two competition points on their Kiwi road trip going down to the Warriors 26-16 on Sunday morning.

The Warriors jumped out to a 16-6 halftime lead behind a Hudsyn Frost double plus a try to fullback Joseph Ratcliffe whilst Steelers rake Axel Antony got the visitors on the board.

Antony snagged a second on the other side of the break to eat into the Warriors lead only for back-to-back tries to Jack Thompson and Siale Pahulu to earn them a handier buffer.

A late try to winger Cooper Morrison kept the Steelers within reach but the Warriors managed to hold on for a key victory.

LISA FIAOLA CUP

The Dragons Lisa Fiaola Cup squad were beaten by the Knights 40-8 in the Hunter on Saturday.

The hosts nabbed four tries in the opening 20 minutes before Dragons No.7 Zarli Collins got the visitors on the board 25 minutes in.

The scoring continued for the Knights through the second stanza as they motored towards the 40-point mark before centre Cherish Niusere-Maiva grabbed a late one for the Red V.

ANDREW JOHNS CUP

The ISC Dragons Andrew Johns Cup outfit ended their year on a high coming away with a 26-22 win over the Northern Rivers Titans in a postponed Round 3 clash in Murwillumbah.

The Titans leapt out to a 16-0 start courtesy of tries to Trei Heterick, Leon Kelly, and Aiden Gersh in the opening 14 minutes, but the ISC Dragons maintained their composure and began their fightback effort.

Hooker Darcy Larkin and centre William Tan both crossed prior to the break to eat into the lead before Brian Bell found his way over early in the second half to tie it for the visitors.

Kelly snagged a second for the Titans 40 minutes in to give them a six-point edge before Bell claimed his second soon after to tie proceedings at 22-all.

Lock Jordan Barlow found his way over for the line late for the ISC Dragons for what proved to be the eventual match-winner.