Rugby League
Dragons in danger
July 8, 2005
ST George Illawarra may slip out of the top eight after Parramatta recorded a runaway 40-14 win before a sellout crowd at Parramatta Stadium.
The Dragons led 10-0 after half an hour and 14-10 early in the second half but blew both leads to hand the home side its ninth win in 11 starts.
The win consolidates second spot on the table for the in-form Eels.
Three of the Dragons' four Origin representatives backed up with only centre Mark Gasnier sitting out the game.
It was Gasnier's replacement, Albert Torrens, who crossed for the first try of the game after just nine minutes.
The four pointer was set up by a neat left-foot grubber from Dean Young which deflected off Parramatta centre Ben Smith and into Torrens' hands.
Michael Ennis landed the conversion to take the visitors out to a handy 6-0 advantage.
Ennis then added penalty goals at the 16th and 26th minute mark to help the Dragons to a 10-0 lead.
The Eels worked themselves back into the game with two tries before the interval and Smith scored them both.
He grabbed his first after 32 minutes following a beautiful flick pass from Dean Widders to reduce the gap to six points.
He then struck a minute before the break and, with John Morris adding the extras. The Eels were back on level terms at 10-all.
State of Origin centre Matt Cooper put Saints back in front four minutes after the break with an unconverted try. But from there it was all Parramatta.
Widders finished off a 50m effort to cross after 50 minutes and put the hosts in front for the first time.
Morris kicked the conversion as the Eels set-up a 16-14 lead.
Fullback Wade McKinnon then posted a try five minutes later in bizarre circumstances.
With the majority of players involved in an all-in brawl following a skirmish between Trent Barrett and PJ Marsh, McKinnon scooted away to touch down.
The Morris conversion put the Eels out of reach at 22-14.
Smith completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute before Glenn Morrison and Chad Robinson added late tries. AAP
