Roosters Rise to Shut Out Dragons at the SCG
The Sydney Roosters bounced back from a disappointing loss last week to keep the St George Illawarra Dragons scoreless at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday evening.
Brilliant playmaking by Tarryn Aiken set up multiple tries for the Roosters, who mustered serious courage in defence and used their opportunities to score six unanswered tries.
Match: Roosters v Dragons
Round 3 -
home Team
Roosters
3rd Position
away Team
Dragons
8th Position
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
A powerful run by Jessica Sergis looked to ignite the Roosters in the opening minutes after the speedy centre broke through the Dragons' defensive line and raced upfield before being taken down by Teagan Berry.
Sergis in Space
With momentum in attack, the Tricolours capitalised through Isabelle Kelly, who was gifted a superb short-ball by Tarryn Aiken to crash over for the opening points. Jocelyn Kelleher nailed the conversion to give the hosts a six-nil lead.
Aiken and Kelly Combine
Back-to-back penalties allowed the Roosters to piggyback upfield in the eighth minute, before Aiken took on the line herself, weaving through to score her second try of the season. Kelleher made no mistake with the conversion, notching the Roosters to a 12-point lead.
Aiken Steps Through
The Roosters lifted to hold out the Dragons on a number of occasions as half-time approached, with heavy-hitting tackles from Amelia Pasikala, Teuila Fotu-Moala and Keeley Davis halting St George.
A forward pass and an offside call also denied the visitors on their run to the try-line as half time approached, before NRLW debutant Amelia Pasikala crashed over, but couldn't wrestle the ball down on the siren.
Trading blows throughout the opening stages of the second half, Millie Boyle was put on report for a hip-drop tackle, allowing the Dragons to creep towards the stripe but the Bondi Wall remained strong.
Pasikala showed strength and determination beyond her years to bulldoze through the Dragons defence early in stanza, before Kelly broke the stalemate with an incredible run down the edge in the 48th minute.
The mighty Tricolours used their opportunities in attack to build on their points tally, as a crisp cut-out ball from Aiken sent Brydie Parker over in the corner for the second consecutive week.
Two minutes later Otesa Pule found her first points of the season, breaking straight through the Dragons' defence to race 40 metres and score, before Kelleher added the extras to make the margin 26.
A short ball by Olivia Kernick supplied Jayme Fressard the final try of the match, with the fiery winger brushing past Raecene McGregor and Berry to get the ball down.
Sydney Roosters 30 (Isabelle Kelly 2, Tarryn Aiken, Brydie Parker, Otesa Pule, Jayme Fressard tries, Jocelyn Kelleher 3 goals) def St George Illawarra Dragons 0.
