Illawarra Steelers return to winner's circle against St George Dragons

Fresh off their first Tarsha Gale loss of the season, to the Newcastle Knights, Lacey's troops had no mercy for the St George Dragons on Saturday at the Collegians Sporting Complex, thumping them 28-4.

The five tries to one victory was set up by four-pointers to Viena Tinao (two) Teagan Berry, Rhiannon Tungai and Keele Browne, with Olivia Vale (three) and Tiana Graham landing kicks.

In the victory, their seventh of the season, the Steelers were led by Group Seven products Keele Browne, Taneisha Roberts and Meg Buchanan (all Milton-Ulladulla) and Riley Scott (Stingrays).

The only other Steelers team to take to the field at the weekend was Jono Dallas' Harold Matthews side, which defeated the Sydney Roosters 16-14 at Collegians.

Both teams scored three tries on the day, with Brendon Morkos, Benjamin Lavender and Callum Cecil crossing for the hosts, but the difference was Toby Peters, who landed two conversions, to seal the win.

The Steelers, which featured Group Seven's Trey Barlow, Toby Peters, Coleby Smith and Jarvis Polley (all Stingrays) and Jonah Longbottom (St Georges Basin), now sit in fifth position on the ladder in 12 points, four off leaders South Sydney.

Ben Linde's SG Ball side had the bye in round eight.

In round nine, Lacey's Steelers travel to Seiffert Oval to battle the Raiders on Saturday from 10.30am, which will be followed by the Harold Matthews and SG Ball clashes between the two sides.