NRL 2019: Dragons claim last-gasp victory over Manly
Local Sport
MATCH-WINNER: Mikaele Ravalawa celebrates his late try in the Dragons win over Manly on Saturday night. Picture: Mark Nolan NRL Photos.
THE Dragons continue to prove the NRL's heart-stoppers, with a late try to Mikaele Ravalawa grabbing a last gasp 12-10 win over Manly at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.
The Eagles looked to have done enough when leading by two with three minutes left only for Ravalawa to scoop up a Ben Hunt grubber and plant the match-winner.
Moments earlier Tim Lafai missed the chance to level up at 10 apiece when he shanked an attempted penalty goal to the right of the posts.
It continued an off with the boot from Lafai who also missed a sitter from next to the posts late in the first half with his side leading 8-4.
It looked to have proven costly when Daly Cherry-Evans crossed under the posts to take a 10-8 lead with 21 minutes to play.
Hunt had other ideas, producing his second try assist of the match off the boot to claim the win and a thin points decision over Cherry-Evans in the race for the Queensland No. 7.
The first try of the match to Matt Dufty also came off the boot of Hunt, with Cherry-Evans laying on the the Eagles first four-pointer for Brad Parker nine minutes before the break.
It took the Dragons to 4-2 on the season and continued what's fast becoming a habit of getting over the line in tight ones, having claimed their first two victories of the year over Brisbane and Newcastle by a single point.
It brought relief for newly re-signed coach Paul McGregor but his side will need a drastically improved effort to be any chance of knocking off the Roosters in Thursday's Anzac Day clash.
"It was a difficult game to watch as a coach but, in saying that, there was a lot of resilience in what we did to," McGregor said.
"We really didn't get much go our way the whole night. Every time we built a bit of momentum around the ruck we didn't get anything for it, we brought line-speed we got no reward for that, the [6-2] penalty count in the second half.
"To find that desire and that resilience in our defence when we needed to and have that energy at the right time of the game... you get the rewards in those wins.
"Our game management's been good most of the year. There was every chance tonight we could've got frustrated with what was going on out there but we were patient, we got to our kick at the end of our sets.
"Where they started their sets and the way we came off the line-speed in our d... it's good to see and it makes you proud as a coach."
The Dragons got off to a hot start, enjoying with six consecutive sets on the Eagles line, but had just a Lafai penalty goal to show for it after nine minutes.
They absorbed their own share of pressure at the other end before garbbing their first try, with a beautifully weighted grubber from Hunt sitting up for Dufty to claim the opening four-pointer.
Lafai converted for an 8-0 lead after 19 minutes. The visitors found themselves back under pressure moments later, with Vaughan spilling the ball from the ensuing kickoff.
It gave the Eagles momentum and they finally made it count nine minutes from the break with Parker crossing off a short ball from Cherry-Evans. The skipper's conversion attempt was waved away, keeping the score at 8-4.
The Dragons had multiple chances to extend their lead as the clock wound down on the opening half but couldn't find more points, with Lafai spraying a an attempted penalty goal from almost in front moments before halftime.
The second stanza turned into a dour grind and it was the Dragons who flinched first with Cherry-Evans crossing under the black dot off a clever through-the-legs ball from Corey Wadell.
He converted to take his side's first lead of the match at 10-8 with just over 20 minutes to play. The visitors were aided by a 6-1 penalty count through 35 minutes of the second half that saw the Dragons struggle for the hit back.
They came close when Euan Aitken was felled by Parker in pursuit of a grubber from Hunt. The bunker did not find a penalty try but the hosts were awarded just their second penalty of the second 40 minutes.
Lafai's attempted leveler was waved away but it was Cherry-Evans who opened the door for the hosts late, grubbering for himself deep in his own half and coughing up possession.
It proved the late reprieve the Dragons needed, with Hunt putting the ball on the ground for Ravalawa who provided some nervous moments for McGregor before ultimately grounding the ball.
It saw the Dragons climb to fifth on the ladder and halt a three-game winning run for the Sea Eagles, who dropped to seventh ahead of their clash with the Raiders next week.
Coach Des Hasler was left questioning the final play of the match in which winger Reuben Garrick looked to have been impeded by Lafai as he sought to contest a kick from Cherry-Evans at the death.
Jordan Pereira ultimately pulled down the kick as the siren sounded, with Hasler saying he'll seek clarification from referees boss Bernard Sutton.
"The rugby league gods were a bit cruel tonight, I thought we did enough to win the game," Hasler said.
"I'll will be taking that last kick, the escort, to Bernie Sutton because it goes directly in the face of what they were talking about as far as running defenders off the ball.
"I thought it was questionable. It's not consistent with what they've been saying. They spoke to us through the week about it [because] we questioned one from the week before.
"It's a bit confusing when they say 'this is what it's going to be, these are the guidelines on the escort' and they won't rule on the escort there.
"We could have at least taken the game to golden point there. It was just one of those nights."
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