Dragons knock off defending premiers in Newcastle

An opening set penalty put the hosts on the attack early with Lilly-Ann White denied the contest’s first points due to an obstruction.

The Knights took advantage of a lopsided, early penalty count with Tamika Upton slicing through to dive over next to the sticks for the affair’s opening four-pointer.

Jesse Southwell converted the try to make it a six-point game 10 minutes into the clash.

Sheridan Gallagher notched the Knights’ second soon after off a right-side shift to improve their lead to double digits.

King was inserted into the action a little over mid-way through the opening stanza with Jamie Soward in search of a timely spark.

The hosts lodged an unsuccessful challenge soon after in an attempt to overturn a knock-on call with Teagan Berry burning the defence to score off the corresponding scrum.

Raecene McGregor put Berry into space down the right flank with the fullback’s pace coming up trumps as she jetted past the cover and slammed the ball down in the right corner to cut the deficit back to a half-dozen.

The Red V made it back-to-back tries after a yardage penalty put them straight back on the attack the following set with King sending a pinpoint spiral the way of Keele Browne who came off the left foot and pushed through a pair of defenders to cross.

McGregor’s conversion snuck inside the left upright as the visitors levelled things at 10-apiece short of the break.

Shenai Lendill left the field moments later for a HIA after a head clash with teammate Maatuleio Fotu-Moala left her with nasty cut.

The Dragons looked to have hit the lead prior to half-time with Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa powering her way over off Zali Hopkins – who shifted into the hooking role to accommodate the injection King – only for video officials to rule a knock-on in the grounding attempt.

The Knights launched another attacking raid off a Dragons error, but a textbook Jamilee Bright shot jolted the ball loose to end the possession as the scored remained locked up.

Lendill was cleared to return for the second half sporting a substantial quantity of tape around her head.

Berry backed up her first-half effort on the other side of the ball 10 minutes into the second stanza completing a try-saver on White as she made a beeline for the left-hand corner post.

Berry helped the Red V snatch their first lead of the evening moments later sweeping around down the right-hand corridor and sending a cut-out the way of Hunt who scurried over in the corner to make it 14-10.

Bright was stretchered from the field with less than 10 minutes on the clock after a nasty collision whilst making a tackle.

Hunt went close to adding to her try tally only for some desperate Knights scramble to bundle her into touch short of the stripe soon after.

Abigail Roache left the field for a HIA the following set as the hosts were forced into a backline re-shuffle before Hannah Southwell joined her for a HIA after a heavy collision the very next play.

Hunt found her second try of the clash in the final stages off a phenomenal, fifth-tackle Kasey Reh cut-out to ensure that the squad would be making a happy trip home.