Dragons beaten by Broncos in season finale

The Dragons fired a warning shot in their opening set with a sweeping Teagan Berry sending a cut-out the way of Kimberley Hunt only for an intercept-hunting Julia Robinson to knock the ball down.

Hunt drew first blood for the Dragons in the set off the corresponding attacking scrum strolling over in the right-hand corner after reeling in a bouncing Tyla King long ball to make it 4-0.

An error off the resulting kick-off looked to have paved the way for the Broncos to hit back only for a desperate Hunt cover effort to force a Robinson knock-on as she dove for the corner.

King left the field 10 minutes in after video officials sent her for a HIA with Kasey Reh shifting into the halves and Zali Hopkins coming onto the field into the hooking role.

Reh’s shift into the halves proved exceptionally fruitful for the Red V with her first kick – a towering punt – resulting in a Broncos error before her second – a deft grubber – laid on a try for Ella Koster with Raecene McGregor knocking over the extras to give her side a double-digit edge.

Reh and Koster’s deadly partnership proved a continuation of the connection the duo forged on their way to a Tarsha Gale Cup premiership win with the Steelers earlier this year.

Back-to-back penalties sent the Broncos onto the attack with Jada Ferguson burrowing her way over out of dummy-half to score.

King was able to return from her HIA prior to half-time but the Dragons remained in search of their third four-pointer with Hunt’s boot brushing the chalk as she looked to dive over for her second off a Berry cut-out.

Another yardage penalty put the Broncos on the front foot with Shenae Ciesiolka powering her way over off a ricocheted grubber to tie things up.

Sophie Clancy left the field in the aftermath of the try for a HIA with Hancock making her way onto the field for her first action of the afternoon.

The Broncos hit the lead their next set with Ciesiolka falling on a loose grubber which had left an array of players from both side in its wake as they vied for it.

A successful captain’s challenge saw the Broncos overturn a knock-on call and march straight back onto the attack with Robinson surging her way over to extend their advantage out to 20-10 heading into the break.

The Broncos went within inches of adding to their lead in their opening set of the second stanza only for a pair of desperate Dragons cover efforts to prevent them from doing so.

The Dragons were awarded their first penalty of the encounter 47 minutes in with Matuuleio Fotu-Moala on the end of a perfect Berry cut-out to cut the deficit back to a half-dozen.

Fotu-Moala displayed a juggling act of sorts but managed to hang onto the ball and bump off the cover to fall over the stripe.

Berry showed off her defensive skillset moments later dislodging the ball from the grip of Robinson as she made a beeline for the corner to save what looked to be a certain four-pointer.

An error off the restart however handed possession back to the Broncos with Mele Hufanga crashing over off a Gayle Broughton offload.

They added to their lead soon after through Chelsea Lenarduzzi who stormed over off a Brigginshaw inside ball.

Robinson and Ferguson both found late doubles for the Broncos to ice the side's victory.

Hancock claimed a try in the final stages only for video officials to spoil her milestone party and rule her short of the line.