Tennessee Titans

Parramatta beats Dragons 24-10 in NRL

Published Jun. 18, 2017 8:30 a.m. ET

SYDNEY (AP) Fullback Clinton Gutherson scored two first-half tries as the Parramatta Eels beat St. George Illawarra 24-10 on Sunday in Australia's National Rugby League.

Eight teams had weekend byes in the abbreviated 15th round due to the second State of Origin match on Wednesday in Sydney. New South Wales leads Queensland in the three-match series 1-0.

On Saturday, teenage halfback Brodie Croft kicked a field goal in extra time to give first-place Melbourne a 23-22 win over North Queensland.

Playing in his first game of the season, the 19-year Croft helped give Melbourne a four-point edge over the Sydney Roosters, who were among the teams with weekend byes.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said Croft spent a lot of time at training this week practicing his field goals.

''He worked hard and he got rewarded for that tonight, and we got rewarded for it,'' Bellamy said.

In the other Saturday match, the defending champion Cronulla Sharks overcame a 12-4 halftime deficit as back-rower Jayson Bukuya scored a 78th-minute try to beat the Wests Tigers 24-22. That moved the Sharks into third place, level on 22 points with the Roosters but behind on points differential.

On Friday, Angus Crichton scored three tries and Alex Johnston added two as South Sydney recovered from 14 points down to overpower a depleted Gold Coast 36-20, ending a three-game losing streak.

The Rabbitohs trailed 20-10 at halftime but crossed for five unanswered tries in the second half to hand the Titans their fourth straight defeat.

The Gold Coast was missing 11 first-grade players due to injuries and because of Wednesday's Origin match.