Young Dragons Bow Out Of Finals Glory
The St George Illawarra Dragons National Youth competition team were defeated 44-16 by the Canberra Raiders to bow out of the preliminary finals at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Saturday.
The Red-and-Whites notched three tries in the deficit with Todd Ryan, Kayne Brennan and Adam Quinlan managing to cross in the harrowing loss.
Head Coach Justin Holbrook had opted to standby the line-up announced in midweek which had comprehensively overcome the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 46-20 in the previous elimination final last round.
Holbrook’s stalwarts had narrowly defeated the Raiders 32-30 when the two outfits met in the nation’s capital earlier this season but found themselves trailing early on this time around.
Raiders prop Shannon Boyd initially made a break 30-metres out from the stripe before offloading to halfback Mitchell Cornish who spotted centre Edrick Lee available for the points.
Raiders five-eighth Anthony Milford converted to make it 6-0.
But the Dragons rallied and found themselves on level-pegging nine minutes later through five-eighth Todd Ryan charge over the stripe.
From there Dragons fullback Adam Quinlan struck the extras to make it 6-all.
The Red-and-Whites sealed safe passage to the preliminary finals courtesy of Adam Quinlan's trifecta, two tries each by of Nathan Green and Blake Phillips as well Craig Garvey’s earlier effort.
However, the Raiders resumed their lead with a further three tries to the trio of second-rower Joe Bradley (22nd), prop Uiti Baker (26th) and winger Jeremy Hawkins (29th).
Milford was accurate only the once from his three attempts at the tee to make it 20-6.
The Raiders pivot took matters into his own hands and added a fourth unanswered try four minutes from the interval.
The Dragons defence had been sloppy collecting a loose ball five metres out from their own try line and the Raiders five-eighth made the most with a quick sweep and plant.
Milford was successful with the conversion to make it 26-6.
The Raiders were the fastest off the mark when second-half play commenced and struck again through winger Jonathan Reuben in the 48th minute.
Milford added the extras to make it 32-6.
The Dragons were again undone eight minutes later by some poor handling errors which gifted Lee easy passage to collect and dart 50-metres for his second of the night.
Milford converted his fifth of the encounter to make it 38-6.
But the Red-and-Whites rallied two minutes later through winger Kayne Brennan, whose dash down the left wing cut the deficit back by four.
However the Raiders nullified any signs of a late Dragons comeback when Mitchell Cronin crossed five minutes later.
Milford certified this with his conversion to make it 44-10.
Yet the Red-and-Whites managed one final converted try for the season through Quinlan three minutes from time to bow out 44-16.
Raiders 44 defeated the Dragons 16Dragons: 16. Tries: Ryan, Brennan, Quinlan. Goals: Quinlan (2/3).
Raiders: 44. Tries: Lee (2), Bradley, Baker, Hawkins, Milford, Reuben, Cronin. Goals: Milford (6/8).
Source: http://www.dragons.com.au/news-display/Young-Dragons-Bow-Out-Of-Finals-Glory/64331
Topic: Young Dragons Miss Out on Grand Final at Hands of Green Machine
