Red V masterclass outshines Titans

The St. George Illawarra Dragons have kept their faint finals hopes alive with a quality display at Kogarah today, disposing of the Gold Coast Titans 34-6 in front of just under 10,000 fans.

It was never in doubt for the Red V from the word go, the home side withstanding the pressure of an early arm-wrestle to cross through Benji Marshall after 8 minutes. Brett Morris nabbed a cheeky intercept five minutes later to extend the lead. The wingers were at it all day - Jason Nightingale was next in out wide and Widdop's second successful conversion from three attempt pushed the Dragons to a 16-0 lead which they held through to halftime.

The boys from Kogarah went on with it in the second half - Josh Dugan then Gerard Beale crossing to push the lead out to 28-0, then Joel Thompson crossed and the floodgates appeared to open. The Titans managed to stem the tide at 34-0 when they crossed for a four-pointer to Anthony Don, with Aidan Sezer adding the extras.

Next week the Dragons have an important clash with Brisbane and will be sweating on the fitness of Dugan and Marshall after they picked up niggling injuries before the Friday night showdown. The Titans continue their 2014 farewell tour with a trip to New Zealand to face a desperate Warriors side.

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (34)
Tries: Benji Marshall, Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale, Josh Dugan, Gerard Beale, Joel Thompson
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (5/6)

GOLD COAST TITANS (6)
Tries: Anthony Don
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (1/1)

TEAM NEWS | Dragons get Ben Creagh back! He starts at prop with Mike Cooper dropping back to the bench. Jack Stockwell and Bronson Harrison drop out. For the Titans, Luke Douglas and Nate Myles are out, with Matt White and Paul Carter to start. Tom Kingston and Maurice Blair come on to the bench.

Dragons looking to post a win to hang on to any mathematical hope of making the finals today while the Titans now hold only spoiling value in the competition. A beautiful sunny afternoon in Kogarah for this one... kickoff not far away.

Big one here for the Saints... we're underway. Titans first ball.

1: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Greg Bird makes an unforced error.
Bird spills it on the second tackle - Dragons straight on the attack.

1: UNFORCED ERROR ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Trent Merrin makes an unforced error.
Merrin does the same for the Dragons... ahhhh football.

3: Big break up the guts from the Dragons, they finish the set 5m out on the last... Widdop chips through but Sezer takes it in-goal and it's a 20m restart for the Titans.

6: Titans penalised for taking out Nightingale who was waiting under a high ball. Easy metres out of their own end for the Dragons.

7: Dragons force a line drop-out

8: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Benji Marshall. Kick to come.
Benji scores, straight through the middle next to the posts.

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Easy conversion for the Brit.

14: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
INTERCEPT! Brett Morris scores a great long-ranger and between him and Canterbury's Josh, his twin brother, the Morris twins now have 200 tries in the NRL.

15: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop unsuccessful.
From the touchline... fades to the left. No goal for Widdop.

21: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Jason Nightingale. Kick to come.
They call him "Florence"... he scores out wide for the Dragons and extends the lead for the hosts.

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts easily from out wide.

24: Titans earn a penalty and now they attack for the first time since Morris' intercept try.

40: Neither team able to penetrate the defence and we go to the break - Dragons lead by 16.

48: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Josh Dugan. Kick to come.
Dugan crosses off a Widdop kick

49: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop does the job with the extras.

54: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Gerard Beale. Kick to come.
Beale crosses off a beautiful Benji Marshall setup.

56: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
More points for the men in the Red V

60: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Joel Thompson. Kick to come.
Joel Thompson runs off a Widdop ball near the posts.

67: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Widdop converts again.

68: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Anthony Don. Kick to come.
Don finally gets a try for the Titans.

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Conversion is good

70: Anthony Don spills a long range kick return. Dragons scrum on the attack.