Report: Jersey Flegg Round 16 vs Dragons

Trailing 28-10 in the first half, a strong second period from the visitors meant they left Wollongong with one competition point.

An early intercept from Tino Tavana sent Max Taotua racing down the sideline, however, Wests Tigers couldn’t capitalise from the next play.

From there, a chipped kick from Kade Reed saw Tobias Miller grab the first points of the morning for the Dragons.

A well-worked shift to the right saw Wests Tigers get on the board as Max Taotua got on the outside of a defender and offloaded to Tavana, who produced an acrobatic dive in the corner.

It was the Dragons’ kicking game that continued to produce points though, as Miller benefited from another fumbled bomb by the visitors.

Their third try though saw David Afu simply power over the top of a defender and distribute to his winger, Jesse Williams.

Miller’s quality game continued when his angled run across field ended with an offload to fellow edge forward, Jarrah Gaia Treweek, who crashed over the line after 21 minutes.

At 22-4, Wests Tigers had to be next to score, and they ensured they remained in the contest when an Iverson Matai bomb led to Solo Saukuru taking possession and proving too powerful close to the line.

From there, Tyler Peckham-Harris’ cut-out ball saw Toby Rumble leap over in the 34th minute, but Wests Tigers would have the final say before half-time.

Saukuru once again caused havoc off the back of a Matai bomb, with the big back-rower flick-passing to Will Craig for a third Tigers try.

That meant the Dragons led 28-14 at half-time, and Wests Tigers ensured they came out with a bang in the second period.

The Matai and Saukuru combination continued, as the halfback put his edge forward through a hole to score in the opening minutes of the half.

Wests Tigers went back-to-back too, as middle forwards Josese Lanyon and Shaq Tavita combined through the middle of the field, with Lanyon ultimately putting the big prop over.

Trailing by four points, the Tigers came heartbreakingly close to equalising, before Williams scooped up a loose ball and went charging 85 metres upfield for St. George Illawarra. Rumble scored on the next play to extend the Dragons lead.

Logan Brookes’ dummy and offload to Taotua gave Wests Tigers a chance heading into the final eight minutes of the contest, before they ultimately did grab the match-levelling try.

Jared Haywood grubbered the ball through for Jeremiah Leatigaga, who planted the ball down to make it 34-34 with two minutes to go.

That was to be the final scoreline at Collegians Sporting Complex in a Saturday thriller in the Jersey Flegg Cup.

Dragons 34 (Miller 2, Rumble 2, Williams, Treweek tries; Reed 5/6 goals) drew with Wests Tigers 34 (Saukuru 2, Tavana, Craig, Tavita, Taotua, Leatigaga tries; Craig 2/4 goals, Tavana 1/3 goals) at Collegians Sporting Complex.