PopularFreedom Ticker

DRAGONS SHOCK PIRATES.
Locke Harbour thumps previously unbeaten Pearson Cliffs in PRL rugby yesterday.

The Dragons finally showed the nation why they were so successful in the International Rugby League late last year.

After starting the season poorly with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses, the Dragons seemed to finally get it together against the previously unbeaten Pearson Cliffs Pirates at home at Champions Heaven Stadium yesterday.

The game started off as a defensive tilt with both teams fighting it out in within 10 metres of the 50 for the majority of the 1st half.

The Pirates were able to get two drop kicks through against the Dragons one to take a 6-3 lead into the dressing room at half time. In the second half however the Dragons actually came out to play.

___________________________________________________________

'We fought good and hard for this one.'

-Dragons prop Greg Hutson.

___________________________________________________________

Both teams again were battling it out in the middle of the field until outside centre Vlad Smith of the Dragons intercepted an errant pass and ran it down into the corner for a try at the 59th minute. Inside centre Sam Walley missed the convert but minutes later was able to make a penalty kick at the 35 yard line to make the score 11-6 for the Dragons.

Josh Papanelo then helped to put the Pirates out of reach bursting through the backs of the Pirates and rumbling in for the Dragons second try of the game, which with the successful convert made the score 18-6 late in the second half.

A final dropkick in the 89th minute put the score to 21-6 and snuffed out any hope the Pirates had of even trying to get within reach of a bonus point for being within 7 points.

After the match the Dragons locker room was a buzz as players celebrated their first real win of the season. 'We fought good and hard for this one', noted a jubilant prop Greg Hutson.

Coach Keith Wright after the match noted that the Dragons were still not at 100% with a number of their players still not recovered from the injuries sustained late last year in the International Rugby League final. 'Still however, as you can see we were determined to win this match and I can guarantee you are going to start seeing the real Dragons for the rest of the season'.

In other PopularFreedom Rugby League news:

-The Lenita Legions were able to roar back in the second half and score 3 late tries to snatch a near victory away from the Locke Harbour Blues in Locke Harbour Stadium yesterday.

-The Viscount Bennett Imperialists broke out to an early lead then hung on and defeated the Magna Carta Crusaders 29-22 in a match closer on paper than it was in reality.

-The visiting Athens Invaders crushed the Workers Point Bobcats in the second half to defeat the home team 26-8 in front of a hostile crowd at Workers Stadium.

-The Stanislav Lions scored a try and convert in injury time to come from behind to defeat an impressive Peace Warriors team 24-19 in the match of the day.

Members of the Dragons celebrate after scoring their second try of the match to give them a commanding lead in the 2nd half 16-6.