You could have had a dozen, maybe two dozen, guesses at who would score the first try on Anzac Day, and Molo wouldn’t have appeared in any of them. On the only day Australians are legally allowed to play two-up, this wasn’t heads, tails or evens, and rather something else altogether.
Another Dragons recruit playing in his first Anzac Day game, Su’A, bagged the second when Paul Momirovski couldn’t catch a Hunt kick and Zac Lomax’s late penalty goal extended the half-time buffer beyond two converted tries.
Roosters captain James Tedesco charges down field.Credit:Getty
It would prove crucial.
Lomax finished the half on report for a crusher tackle on Roosters skipper James Tedesco, only a few blades of grass away from when he was clocked high by Jordan Pereira last year. He didn’t finish that game with concussion, and couldn’t have a lasting impact in this one.
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Bird didn’t finish this Anzac Cup either, first hobbled by a shin whack and then a more serious arm injury. Three minutes into the second half the Dragons lost Su’A, whose ankle buckled under a tackle from Waerea-Hargreaves.
Sitili Tupouniua made the Dragons pay shortly after, charging onto a Radley pass after Tedesco almost lost his pants on a long surge which started inside his own half.
Tupou was lucky to have stayed on the field after being placed on report for a high shot on Mikaele Ravalawa, who had charged into the Roosters’ red zone.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 14 (Francis Molo, Jaydn Su’A tries; Zac Lomax 3 goals) defeated SYDNEY ROOSTERS 12 (Sitili Tupouniua, Joseph Manu tries; Sam Walker 2 goals) at SCG. Referee: Adam Gee. Crowd: 35,273.
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Desperate Dragons hang on for Anzac Day upset over Roosters
Source: Philippines Alive
