Dragons breathe fire to run out winners over Bulldogs

A dominant performance led by Benji Marshall has seen St. George Illawarra dominate Canterbury-Bankstown to run out 31-6 winners in front of 20,273 fans at ANZ Stadium.

Having been forced to defend their try-line on 41 occassions, the Dragons produced their strongest performance of the year, achieving their highest score against their best opponents.

Throughout the first half it seemed only a matter of when the Dragons would crack, but after displaying a resolute defensive structure early on, first half tries to Josh Dugan, Peter Mata'utia and Tyson Frizell saw the home side take an 18-0 lead into halftime.

Coming in for Jason Nightingale following an injury sustained in the warm up, Peter Mata'utia finished off the try of the match in the 33rd minute after a brilliant cut out pass saw the eldest Mata'utia brother with a clear passage to the line.

After failing to come up with a try in the first half, the Bulldogs were finally able to post points in the 50th minute through Josh Morris. With Trent Hodkinson converting from in front, the Bulldogs looked to be back in the contest but the biggest talking point of the match was yet to come.

From the kickoff, Bulldogs front rower Tim Browne was struck in the head by the forearm of Tyson Frizell, leaving the Canterbury player unconscious. After a slight delay Frizell was placed on report, much to the disgust of Bulldogs fans calling for the Dragons second rower to be sent off.

Despite Frizell remaining on the field, the Dragons continued to stand up to the Bulldogs, crossing for two more tries through Joel Thompson and Euan Aitken, the first of his career, along with a field goal from Benji Marshall to run out 31-6 winners.

For the Dragons, Marshall and halfback Gareth Widdop, playing his 100th game in first grade were outstanding in attack; while the Dragons forwards produced several try saving tackles on their own line.

While debate will continue to rage concerning what constitutes a send-off following Frizell's hit, along with Mitchell Moses earlier effort against the Titans, the Bulldogs were never able to capitalise on their wealth of possession inside the Dragons half which ultimately cost them victory.

Apart from Tim Browne, Canterbury centre Chase Stanley hobbled off late in the match, but should be fine for next weeks match. For the Dragons, the injury that saw Jason Nightingale ruled out in the warm up shouldn't keep the Kiwi international out, but following a tremendous performance from Peter Mata'utia, the Dragons have a quality replacement available.

Next week the Dragons face up against Brisbane at WIN Jubilee Oval on Friday night in what shapes up as one of the games of the season, while the Bulldogs remain at ANZ Stadium for the fourth straight week, hosting the desperate Manly Sea Eagles on Friday.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Benji Marshall
2 points - Jack de Belin
1 point - Peter Mata'utia

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (31)
Tries: Josh Dugan, Peter Mata'utia, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Euan Aitken
Field Goals: Benji Marshall (1/1)
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (5/5)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (6)
Tries: Josh Morris
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (1/1)

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 6 Sunday Afternoon football between traditional rivals St. George Illawarra and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

After sustaining an injury in the opening game of the season against Melbourne, Dragons captain Ben Creagh will make his return, starting the game in the front row. With Creagh returning, Mike Cooper has been rested following a hamstring injury sustained in last weeks win in Newcastle.

Following the controversy of last week's Grand Final rematch, Canterbury have made a number of changes from the side named on Tuesday. Former Dragon Chase Stanley will start the game in the centres in jersey #17, with Moses Mbye reverting to five-eighth as he did last week. This means Josh Reynolds will play off the bench, most likely filling in at hooker, relieving Michael Lichaa. Other changes include former Australian international Antonio Kaufusi starting in the front row, with Tim Browne moving back to the bench.

The last time these sides met was Round 9, 2014 with the Bulldogs running out 38-6 winners at ANZ Stadium. On that day, Tim Lafai crossed for a hat trick in the seven-try romp.

Since 2003, both sides have put together impressive winning streaks over the opposition. Canterbury have won the past five encounters, but prior to that the Dragons registered six straight wins and going back to even further, the Bulldogs managed a seven game winning streak over the merged entity.

Can the Dragons win four in a row for the first time since 2011 or will the Bulldogs be able to overcome the losses of Graham, Klemmer, Kasiano, Morris and Lafai to post their fourth win of 2015.

Kick-off only moments away. News coming out of the Dragons that Jason Nightingale has suffered an injury in the warm up. No news yet concerning whether or not he will play and who his replacement may be.

Jason Nightingale has been ruled out - Peter Mata'utia will play in #21.

St. George Illawarra kick off and Sam Perrett almost makes a break on the first run of the day.

1: Eto Nabuli is able to take Trent Hodkinson's bomb. Canterbury made huge metres in the first set.

2: Tony Williams kicks the ball on the last and forces Peter Mata'utia in goal. Line Drop out.

4: Tony Williams gets a terrific offload away to Sam Perrett who is held up by Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell in goal. Try saving tackle.

4: Peter Mata'utia is able to get to Moses Mbye's bomb before Curtis Rona. 20 metre re-start.

5: Benji Marshall kicks out on the full. Bulldogs will get another chance early on.

7: After throwing a number of offloads, Canterbury put in a grubber that is cleaned up by Peter Mata'utia.

8: The Bulldogs have made it their mission to have Tony Williams run at the Dragons right side defence.

9: Penalty to St. George. Dragons should be in attacking territory by the end of the set.

10: Possible try to Josh Dugan. Mitch Rein delivered a great pass to his fullback. Referee checking to see if there was a knock on.

11: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
Dugan opens the scoring for the Dragons.

11: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
In his 100th first grade game, Gareth Widdop converts from close to the posts.

11: Big tackle from Aiden Tolman on Ben Creagh off the kickoff.

11: Dylan Farrell may have scored. Referee has ruled No Try.

11: It was a fantastic lead up from Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop.

12: No Try ruled against Farrell.

14: Trent Hodkinson loses the ball on the last, great lead up play. Both sides have been willing to pass the ball so far today.

15: In trying to stay in the field of play, the Dragons have thrown a pass to Curtis Rona. Bulldogs back on the attack.

16: Tim Browne is on for the Bulldogs replacing Antonio Kaufusi.

17: Josh Dugan is forced in goal by two Bulldogs. A good result from a Moses Mbye kick, didn't have enough on it for a try, but the next best result.

19: Sam Perrett knocks on following a Bulldogs sweep play. The Dragons are standing up to the Bulldogs.

20: Peter Mata'utia kicks out on the full on the last tackle.

21: Big run by Tony Williams, taken by three Dragons.

21: Moses Mbye grubbers in goal but Peter Mata'utia is able to watch it go dead.

22: Canterbury have allowed Mbye to do the majority of kicking in attacking positions.

24: A great Bulldogs try has gone begging after a forward pass from Chase Stanley to Corey Thompson. Great lead up work from the Bulldogs.

25: The Dragons have lost the ball inside their half.

25: Greg Eastwood has gone up the tunnel, Lloyd Perrett is on as his replacement.

26: Dylan Farrell comes up with the ball only metres out from the line.

27: Jack de Belin and Jake Marketo are on for the Dragons.

28: Canterbury have dominated possession so far but are yet to come up with points.

29: Josh Reynolds is about to come on for the Bulldogs.

30: Michael Lichaa has come off for Canterbury. Moses Mbye appears to be playing hooker, with Reynolds playing at 5/8.

31: Canterbury have come up with an error, if the Dragons can come up with a try here it would be a huge blow against the Bulldogs.

32: Gareth Widdop loses the ball trying to kick for Eto Nabuli after the Bulldogs had come up.

32: Heath L'Estrange is on for the Dragons.

33: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Peter Mata'utia. Kick to come.
The last minute replacement for Jason Nightingale scores off a vintage Benji Marshall pass.

34: That's a huge play by the Dragons. After sustaining all the Bulldogs had to throw at them, the Dragons have come up with a big play just before the break.

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
From the sideline, Widdop converts.

36: Penalty to the Dragons.

36: If St. George can score here it would almost be a match winning lead.

38: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Tyson Frizell. Kick to come.
The former Shark crosses for the Dragons 3rd try of the day. 16-0 KTC.

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
He's done it again. 3/3.

39: Huge shot on Eto Nabuli by Tim Browne has led to scuffle.

39: That shot from Tim Browne has forced Nabuli back to Fiji !

40: Final play of the half is a grubber gone dead from Mbye. St. George have stood up to everything the Bulldogs have thrown at them and crossed for three tries of their own.

40: Play back underway in the second half.

41: Chase Stanley looks to get over but is taken short of the line.

41: Josh Morris is taken just short of the line on the last tackle.

43: Benji Marshall tries an inside pass to Josh Dugan but the ball goes to ground.

44: High tackle on Corey Thompson. Canterbury with a full set 20 metres out.

44: Penalty against Jake Marketo, Canterbury with another set.

45: Josh Reynolds kicks for Corey Thompson but Eto Nabuli is able to defuse the situation before being tackled in goal.

47: Gareth Widdop defuses a Bulldogs chip kick. Canterbury just can't score despite having a ton of ball in attacking range.

49: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Morris. Kick to come.
Finally. The Bulldogs cross after a no-look pass from Tony Williams.

50: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
18-6 now. If the Bulldogs can score again they are still a chance.

50: Tim Browne has been smashed by Tyson Frizell's arm. Browne hasn't moved, the Bulldogs supporters are calling for Frizell to be marched.

50: Aiden Tolman is about to come back on replacing Browne.

50: The medicab has been called to take Browne off. Horrible scenes here at ANZ.

50: Referee Ben Cummins has allowed Tyson Frizell to remain on the field, but he is On Report.

51: Frank Pritchard is tackled short of the Dragons line. Turnover.

51: Gareth Widdop has knocked on inside his own half.

53: After a crazy last tackle play, the Dragons have come up with the ball through Josh Dugan.

54: Sam Perrett has knocked on 10 metres out from the Bulldogs try line trying to pick up Benji Marshall's kick.

56: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Joel Thompson. Kick to come.
The Dragons second rower runs in between Josh Jackson and Chase Stanley to score.

58: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
With 22 minutes remaining the Bulldogs will need to replicate their Round 4 performance against Wests Tigers to get out of this one.

59: George Rose is on for the Dragons, Paul McGregor will be looking for the former Manly prop to provide some impact in the final 20.

60: The Dragons have lost the ball inside their 30. Bulldogs with a chance.

60: Josh Jackson gets over the line but once again the Dragons defenders save a try.

61: Benji comes up with the ball after a poor pass from the Bulldogs.

63: Canterbury take a quick tap hoping to score with 17 remaining.

64: Chase Stanley is tackled by a number of Dragons only a metre out.

64: Peter Mata'utia makes a tremendous run from the in goal, tackled on the 30 metre line.

65: Jack de Belin forces Corey Thompson back in goal. Dragons can wrap this game up with any scoring play here.

67: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Field goal attempt by Benji Marshall successful.
Just like he did last week, the Dragons #7 slots a one-pointer to secure the win for the home side.

68: The Bulldogs try a chip and chase but once again the Dragons have come up with the ball.

69: Penalty to the Dragons.

70: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Euan Aitken. Kick to come.
The 19 year old scores his first NRL try.

71: Great work by Gareth Widdop to kick ahead for Aitken.

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
The 100-gamer maintains his perfect record.

74: While there may be criticism for not sending Tyson Frizell off for his hit on Tim Browne, no one can deny the Dragons performance today. Outstanding display from the team with the Big Red V.

74: Mitch Rein is taken metres out from the line.

75: With Josh Dugan off the field, Gareth Widdop has moved back to fullback.

76: Widdop finds touch 10 metres out.

77: Euan Aitken looks to get his second try but the referee rules a knock on against the Dragons.

78: A floating pass from the Bulldogs is dropped by Peter Mata'utia. The Bulldogs will get one last chance to score.

79: Chase Stanley is down with another injury, he is being escorted off, hopefully it isn't serious.

79: Once again the Dragons have saved another try, this time stopping Frank Pritchard.

79: Corey Thompson is forced into touch.

79: The Bulldogs have come up with one try from 41 tackles in the Dragons 20. The Dragons have scored five tries from 13 tackles in the Bulldogs 20.

80: The siren sounds and the Dragons claim their fourth straight victory.