League: Dragons slay Warriors at death

WOLLONGONG - Fast-starting St George Illawarra staved off a bold fightback to take an absorbing National Rugby League arm wrestle 32-18 over the New Zealand Warriors at WIN Stadium here tonight.

After surging to an 18-point lead inside the first quarter, the Dragons only snuffed out the Warriors' spirited resistance in the 70th minute when Michael Ennis scored between the sticks to give the home side an impregnable 10-point lead.

The loss ended the Warriors' mini two-match winning streak and allowed the Dragons to provisionally replace the New Zealanders in ninth spot.

The Warriors gave the Dragons an early leg up before smart finishing by Manu Vatuvei and a 90-metre intercept by Todd Byrne dragged the visitors back into the contest.

A handy 39th-minute Stacey Jones penalty reduced the margin to 12-18 at the break.

The Warriors were rocked as early as the fourth minute when wing Wes Naiqama brushed aside three would-be defenders after being put in space by centre Matt Cooper.

Cooper's State of Origin teammate Mark Gasnier exposed some brittle Warriors' defence five minutes later when he stormed 60-metres under the posts after eluding prop Richard Villasanti before wrong footing Brent Webb and leaving Jones in his wake.

When captain Trent Barrett scored after the Dragons recovered the five-eighths bomb a rout looked possible.

However, interchange back Vatuvei started the mini resurgence in the 24th minute when he collected a difficult Jerome Ropati pass to force in the corner after a smart offload from second rower Awen Guttenbeil.

Jones added the sideline conversion and with 10 minutes remaining Byrne swooped on a Ben Hornby pass before surging 90-metres.

Infamous for getting run down by Penrith's Scott Sattler in the 2003 grand final the former Sydney Rooster was never in danger of experiencing a repeat with prop Luke Bailey the closest defender.

The second stanza ebbed and flowed with the Dragons again quick out of the blocks when Cooper fended off Vatuvei and streaked 70-metres to spike the Warriors' comeback seven minutes after the restart.

Barnstorming interchange forward Iafeta Paleaaesina cancelled out Cooper's try in the 56th minute to reduce the margin to 18-22 but the Warriors could not profit further from a period of dominance despite a promising bust by centre Clinton Toopi and Villsasanti also going close before Ennis sealed the victory.

Wing Colin Best twisted the knife, scoring wide out with three minutes to play.

Ennis was placed on report by referee Steve Clarke for a lifting tackle on Nathan Fien in the 34th minute though the incident did not appear serious.

However, Warriors lock Sione Faumuina could be in trouble after a 64th minute high shot on Barrett.

St George Illawarra 32 (Wes Naiqama, Mark Gasnier, Trent Barrett, Matt Cooper, Michael Ennis, Colin Best tries; Wes Naiqama 3 goals; Michael Ennis goal)

New Zealand Warriors 18 (Manu Vatuvei, Todd Byrne, Iafeta Paleaaesina tries; Stacey Jones 3 goals).

Halftime: 18-12.

Crowd: 14,429.

- NZPA