Spoon-bound Dragons push Dolphins all the way but beaten again

You have to give St George Illawarra a bit of credit for refusing to throw in the towel, despite knowing they have already won the wooden spoon this season.The Dragons lost 28-22 against the Dolphins on Friday evening, but they were pushing for a try inside the final two minutes in the hope of sending the game in Wollongong to golden point.Kyle Flanagan put up the kick at the end of an ordinary set, the Dragons kept the ball alive, then lodged a captain’s challenge when they thought the Dolphins had got a hand to the ball during the frantic play.But the bunker spotted Hamish Stewart in an offside position as he chased through Flanagan’s kick, and the Dolphins received the ball.The Dragons have not had much luck for a lot of the year when it comes to close calls, which was pointed out by the club’s own CEO Tim Watsford last week after the club officially announced Dean Young would be the head coach.There was a moment late in the game when Isaiya Katoa knocked down a Valentine Holmes pass, and there was a suggestion the ball went forward. Katoa himself laid there and looked at debutant referee Kieren Irons to make a call.Selwyn Cobbo scores for the Dolphins.Getty ImagesBut Katoa played on, and the Dolphins scored a minute later through Tom Flegler to give them a decent lead.Lyhkan King-Togia was brought into the starting halves at the expense of Daniel Atkinson, and grew in confidence the longer the game went.He started to ask plenty of questions down the left edge, and came up with a ripper of a cutout ball for Tyrell Sloan that sent him down field before the play finished with Clint Gutherson getting across the line.King-Togia was also the one who went down the short side before Holmes’ pass was touched by Katoa.The Dragons celebrate Tyrell Sloan’s try.Getty ImagesThe Dragons trailed at half-time, but three of the Dolphins tries had come from nowhere, and inside their own half.Kurt Donoghoe was able to brush aside Damien Cook and steam down field, skipped out of tackle from fellow Dragons co-captain Gutherson, before he was brought down by Sloan. The visitors went left the next play, and a Herbie Farnworth offload found Ray Stone who had just come on to the field.Connelly Lemuelu’s flick pass hit the chest of Kodi Nikorima who stormed down field before he threw the final pass back in for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score the opening try of the night.And Selwyn Cobbo scored when he charged on to a lovely ball from Jack Bostock, who bumped off Toby Couchman, drifted across field and snuck the ball out for his fellow winger. If Lemuelu’s’ flick pass was outstanding, Bostock’s effort was arguably better.Aside from conceding a few long-range tries, the Dragons were solid in defence. For most of the night, they struggled to attack from good field position.There were still a few brain explosions, none bigger than Holmes when he intercepted a Katoa pass early in the second half, sprinted 40m, then threw a bludger of a ball for Setu Tu that dribbled another 10m forward.Tu scored a try in the first half and came up with the shot of the night on future Dragons’ teammate and Dolphins’ playmaker Kodi Nikorima.The Dragons host Cronulla next Sunday, but will be without Toby Couchman who failed a head injury assessment, while the Dolphins try to keep their top-four hopes alive when they host Brisbane next Saturday.From our partners