Wests Tigers recorded a hard fought 24-22 victory over a gallant Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Leichhardt Oval tonight in round 21 of the Telstra Premiership.

In front of a crowd of 14, 942, the Wests Tigers had to dig real deep to hold off a never say die Sharks outfit to take the two points to move to 28 points on the Telstra Premiership ladder.

Wests Tigers started the game in fine style when the ball was spread left through five-eighth Benji Marshall which saw winger Beau Ryan make a good 35 metre run with his first touch.

The Sharks were denied a try in the seventh minute to winger Blake Ferguson after referee Jason Robinson ruled a forward pass much to the delight of the Wests Tigers supporters on a very packed hill.

Former Wests Tigers centre Dean Collis opened the scoring when he beat opposite centre Chris Lawrence to score in the corner. Half-back Scott Porter failed to convert the try for a 4-0 lead.

Referee Brett Suttor called on video referee Phil Cooley in the 17th minute to see whether full-back Mitch Brown had scored out wide in a three man tackle against his former club. The try was denied.

Wests Tigers opened their account two minutes later through Brown after a grubber kick by hooker Robbie Farah from dummy half. Brown is having a superb game against his former club after being a late call up through the injury to Wade McKinnon.

Marshall converted the try from next to the posts to give Wests Tigers a 6-4 lead.

The Sharks were denied a try again to Ferguson when the winger put his foot on the sideline in trying to score in the 21st minute.

Wests Tigers extended their lead in the 24th minute when second-rower Liam Fulton proved too strong in a 10 metre run to score out wide for a 10-4 lead. Marshall, from 10 metres in and 22 metres out, failed to convert the try.

Cooley was again called on in the 30th minute to rule whether Ferguson had grounded the ball after a crossfield bomb by Trent Barrett was spilt by winger Lote Tuqiri. The try was awarded for a 10-8 scoreline.Porter converted the try for a 10-10 scoreline.

The video referee was called on in the 35th minute to rule whether Lawrence had scored in the corner or gone into touch in a tackle by Ferguson. It came back as Refs Call with referee Jason Robinson ruling he went into touch.

A beautiful pass by Marshall put Lawrence into a gap to race 40 metres inside the final five seconds of the first half to score in the corner for a 14-10 lead at half-time. Marshall failed to convert the try.

2nd Half

Wests Tigers started the second half in the same way they finished the first half with a try in the 42nd minute to Fulton, his second for the game. Lawrence took over the goal-kicking duties and converted from in front of the posts for a 20-10 lead.

Cooley was called on in the 52nd minute to rule whether Ferguson scored his second try off a crossfield kick by Barrett. Replays showed Tuqiri saved a try when he took Ferguson into touch before planting the ball down in the corner.It was ruled no try.

The Sharks were awarded a second try to Collis in the 55th minute when referee Brett Suttor ruled Paul Gallen did not touch the ball in trying to defuse a Barrett bomb in-goal. The ball deflected rolled behind the posts for Collis to score. Suttor awarded the try on the spot without referring it to the video referee, much to the anger of the Wests Tigers crowd.

Porter converted the try to leave the Sharks trailing 20-16.
Wests Tigers stretched their lead in the 65th minute when Marshall delivered a superb cut out pass to Tuqiri to dive over out wide for a 24-16 scoreline. Lawrence failed to convert his own try.

The Sharks got back to 24-20 when Tuqiri spilt a crossfield kick by Barrett for full-back Nathan Gardner to score behind the posts. Porter converted the try for a 24-22 scoreline after 71 minutes.

Cronulla went into Wests Tigers half through a penalty in the 72nd minute after former Wests Tigers utility John Morris dived on a play the ball by Chris Heighington when Farah was not looking.

The Sharks got inside the Wests Tigers 10 metres before centre Ben Pomeroy was penalised in planting the ball down after being called held by Robinson.

Wests Tigers looked set to score when a grubber kick by Marshall in the 77th minute was spilt by winger Luke Covell only for centre Blake Ayshford to knock it on in trying to pick up the loose ball before the line to score.

A grubber kick by Farah in the 78th minute gave Wests Tigers a repeat set despite having men on his outside. A knock on in the next set saw the Sharks have one last chance inside the final minute from their quarter line.

Tuqiri defused his most important kick of the night inside from Barrett inside the final 20 seconds to give Wests Tigers a two point victory.

Wests Tigers tackle Souths next Saturday night at ANZ Stadium.