Warriors down Dragons, strengthen finals spot

The Warriors have consolidated their top eight spot with an 18-12 win over the Dragons at WIN Stadium.

After leading 18-0 at half-time, the Warriors had to withstand a Dragons second-half comeback to clinch a crucial two points.

The Warriors scored three tries in the last ten minutes of the first half. The first came in the 30th minute, just after St George fullback Matt Dufty was sent to the sin bin for interfering with Warriors’ fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on a kick chase.

The Warriors elected to take the tap rather than a have a shot at goal from the ensuing penalty, and a nice offload from backrower Isaiah Papali’i put centre Solomone Kata over out wide.

The Warriors were in again four minutes later when interchange forward Jazz Tevaga offloaded despite the attention of three Dragons forwards to put hooker Issac Luke over near the posts.

The Dragons almost hit back two minutes before halftime, but centre Tim Lafai lost the ball over the line in a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tackle.

Solomone Kata scored his second try of the match just before half-time after the Warriors ran the ball on the short side and Blake Green put him over in the corner.

The Dragons had to score first in the second half to get back in the match and they did that when hooker Cameron McInnes scored a fairly soft try from dummy half in the 46th minute.

They were in again four minutes later to reduce their deficit to six points, when interchange forward Luciano Leilua pounced on a Gareth Widdop grubber to score.

The Warriors then regrouped and withstood everything St George threw at them for the rest of the half.

The win keeps the Warriors four points clear of the Tigers in eighth spot with just four rounds to go.

The loss makes St George’s top four spot more tenuous, with both Cronulla and Penrith having the chance to join them on 28 points if they win their matches tomorrow.