Dureau Crosses In Dying Minutes To Seal Canberra's Cup Fate

Illawarra Mercury

Monday March 31, 2008

By MIKE DRISCOLL

ST GEORGE Illawarra survived a late scare to beat Canberra in Saturday night's Toyota Cup clash at Canberra Stadium.

The Dragons won 43-32, with Nathan Dureau scoring with two minutes remaining to seal the victory. The visitors had led 37-24 after lock Matt Mundine slotted a field goal before Canberra struck with tries, to winger Steve Naughton and replacement Levi Freeman, to get within a converted try of the lead.

In a tense finish to a game riddled with handling errors, the Dragons trailed 20-18 at half-time.

Scores were locked 24-all midway through the second half when Canberra centre Justin Carney scored, but Jarrad Crocker missed the conversion and the chance to put the Raiders in front.

The Dragons pounced, with tries to Mundine and winger Daniel Nicastri.

Mundine carried three defenders to the line before planting down the ball, while Nicastri ran on to a slick cut-out pass to score in the corner.

The Raiders scored with six minutes remaining, when Naughton dived over in the left corner to score his third try of the game.

Then Freeman scored shortly after to give the Raiders a shot at victory.

The Dragons ended the contest, however, in the closing stages when Dureau scored after capitalising on a dropped ball in the Raiders' quarter.

St George Illawarra 43 (D Nicastri, R O'Brien, T Merrin, J Marketo, M Mundine, L Gowland, N Dureau tries; M Mundine 7 goals, field goal) defeated Canberra 32 (S Naughton 3, J Carney 2, T Waddell, L Freeman tries; J Crocker 2 goals) at Canberra Stadium.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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