Telstra Stadium
Referee: Jason Robinson
www.leagueunlimited.com
Scorers:
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 30
Tries: Hewitt 2, Lewis, Houston, Nightingale, Ryan
Goals: Lewis 3/6
PARRAMATTA EELS 20
Tries: Basan, Micallef, Inu, Hauraki
Goals: Williams 2/4
Live commentary:
And we're underway here at Homebush in the first final of the day.
The Dragons kick-off on the sundrenched field.
6 min: TRY - Dragons.
The red and whites open up the scoring through winger Tom Hewitt who ran onto a clever blindside play. Conversion unsuccessful.
Dragons 4 Eels 0.
14 min: NEWS - Lewis for the Dragons kicks out on the full and presents the Eels with a good opportunity.
17 min: TRY - Eels.
Captain Michael Basan gets a great short ball close to the line and he bursts through the line. Conversion successful.
20 min: NEWS - Some scrappy play from the Dragons up the middle of the ruck sees a turnover. The minor premiers don't appear to be in rhythm just yet.
22 min: TRY - Eels.
Simon Micallef goes over in the corner for Parra as they put together a great backline move. Could an upset be on the cards? Conversion from out wide unsuccessful.
Eels 10 Dragons 4.
28 min: NEWS - Dragons grass an opportunity to put some points on the board with poor handling.
32 min: NEWS - A failed attempt at field goal by Eels five-eighth Blake Green.
33 min: TRY - Dragons.
The Eels fail to clean up a grubber 20m out from their line and Josh Lewis swoops on the pill and scores. Conversion unsuccessful.
Eels 10 Dragons 10.
Halftime: The Dragons started and finished the first half well but the middle part of the game was dominated by the Eels. An upset looked like a real possibility around the 25 minute mark and still could be with the scores level here. I'm sure the Dragons coach Steve Price will have a few things to say during the break and a better effort will be seen.
And the Eels get the game rolling in the second half...this will be a cracking 35 minutes of footy!
37 min: TRY - Eels.
Parra get things moving early with a great try to Krisnan Inu who flew high above the Dragons outside backs to take a cross-field kick. The conversion from Williams hits the post.
Eels 14 Dragons 10.
47 min: NEWS - The heat seems to be taking a fair toll on the Dragons. Parra has all the momentum at this point.
48 min: TRY - Dragons.
A fantastic run-away try here to the Dragons. Josh Lewis chips over the top and fires a bullet-like pass to winger Tom Hewitt who goes like a rocket for the corner and scores. Try of the match so far. Conversion unsuccessful and we're all locked up again.
Eels 14 Dragons 14.
51 min: TRY - Dragons.
And they're on fire now. Prop Chris Houston barges over next to the posts from close range to take the lead. Conversion successful.
Dragons 20 Eels 14.
52 min: NEWS - Parra kick out on the full from the restart.
57 min: TRY - Dragons.
Lewis hoists a ball and Jason Nightingale flies high to post another try. They're right on top now. Conversion unsuccessful.
Dragons 24 Eels 14.
61 min: NEWS - replacement Scott Jones held up over the line for Parra after a good dart out from dummy half.
63 min: TRY - Eels.
A determined run from Weller Hauraki gets him over the line. Conversion successful and we've got a real game on our hands here.
Dragons 24 Eels 20.
66 min: TRY - Dragons.
Josh Lewis carves up in the centre of the field and kicks through into the in-goal area for Beau Ryan to score. Great try and they look like they've got home. Conversion successful.
Dragons 30 Eels 20.
Fulltime: The minor premiers and red hot favourites St George Illawarra Dragons have overcome Parramatta Eels to win the Jersey Flegg Grand Final by 30-20.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - J Lewis (Dragons)
2 - T Hewitt (Dragons)
1 - M Basan (Eels)
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