The return of gun centre Starford To’a couldn’t get the Newcastle Knights Jersey Flegg side over the line on the weekend, going down to the Dragons 29-16.
Newcastle burst out of the blocks with three tries within the first 16 minutes, but the Dragons returned fire rapidly and kept the red and blue scoreless for the remainder of the match.
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It was Jack Cameron for the Knights to open the scoring account in the ninth minute at Ziems Park before Grant Anderson crossed over minutes later to make it 10-0.
On a roll, Knights forward Ben Talty fired with another four pointer and with a Bayden Searle conversion, it was 16-0 after 18 minutes.
But that’s when the Knights were stopped in their tracks and the Dragons started to pick up their game.
Blair Grant and Simeone Taateo scored within five minutes of each other before Dragons fullback Cody Ramsey claimed the double to put the Dragons in front 22-16 at the break.
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In the second, it was a little quieter on the try front with a single Dragons try via Dante Lusio.
Blair Grant finished off the scoring with a penalty goal for the Dragons before a field goal minutes before the final siren to see them charge to a 29-16 win over the Knights.
The loss sees Newcastle bumped down to third on the 20s ladder.
Knights 16 (Cameron, Anderson, Talty)
Dragons 29
