Saints held scoreless at the SFS
5th of September, 2008
The Sydney Roosters have secured their first Top 4 position since 2004 and a home final after defeating the St George Illawarra Dragons 10-0 in a lacklustre match at Sydney Football Stadium.
A match played in absolutely horrid weather, the highlights included several dropped balls and knock ons as players struggled to gain control of the slippery ball in heavy rain.
The match doesn't come without a terrible toll for the Roosters, who will finish the season without controversial forward Willie Mason. Mason went down early in the first half after two heavy knock to his right knee, with the initial diagnosis revealing that he has caused severe damage to his anterior cruciate ligament. If confirmed, he will certainly miss the rest of this season, the World Cup and even possibly a good part of season 2009.
The first half was filled with chances for both sides, but it was still nil-all at the break with both teams unable to convert some chances into points. It was the first match in almost 12 months where we have seen the scores locked at nil-all at the half time break.
It took 47 minutes for the Roosters to cross over for the first points, with returning fullback Anthony Minichiello taking the honours.
12 minutes later, newly appointed skipper Braith Anasta crossed for the last try of the match. He alongside Craig Fitzgibbon, were standout players for the Roosters and undoubtedly lifted to a new level in a match the Roosters desperately wanted to win.
The Roosters were outstanding in defence and performed well under pressure to keep the Dragons out and prevent them from posting any points. They muscled up on their own goal line and played as if their season depended on them keeping the Dragons scoreless for the match, and while the Dragons didn't play that badly, they failed to convert opportunities when they mattered.
Story thanks to Jubilee Avenue
Roosters 10
Tries: Anthony Minichiello, Braith Anasta
Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (1/2)
Dragons 0
Goals: Mark Gasnier (0/1)
Referee: Shayne Hayne
Crowd: 14, 127
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