Wests Tigers Intrust Super Premiership side have suffered a disappointing 42-10 defeat to the North Sydney Bears this afternoon at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
With a makeshift backline, injuries throughout the game and a 8-2 first-half penalty count, it was a tough afternoon for David Heath’s side who trailed by 32 points at the break, before improving somewhat in the second half to finish with an 42-10 scoreline.
Looking to keep their top four hopes alive, North Sydney came out of the blocks firing with a clear intent to target the right edge of Wests Tigers — crossing after five minutes through Tautalatasi Tasi and Sitiveni Moceidreke after 12 minutes for a 10-0 lead.
Off the back of a remarkably high penalty count, the Bears made it 16-0 after as many minutes when Luke Kelly went himself to crash over next to the posts, before another sweep to the left saw Tasi crash over in the corner for a 20-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Eli Levido showed good touch to convert from the sideline, taking the score to 22-0.
The one way traffic continued for North Sydney as a shift to the right saw Ed Murphy put Abbas Miski over after 30 minutes, with Ryland Jacobs forced off with injury.
Tasi would cap off a dominant first half for the visitors with his third try of the afternoon, with Levido adding the extras to give the Bears a remarkable 32-0 lead.
Inside the final set of the half, a late shot on Billy Kitt would see both teams come together, with Jack Goseiwski sent to the sin bin for coming in to the contest swinging as the third man — giving Wests Tigers a man advantage to start the second half.
However, despite the advantage, the right edge defence of the home side would again give the visitors too much room, with Tasi speeding over for his fourth try of the day.
Levido again converted from the sideline, extending the lead to 38-0 after 45 minutes.
Desperate to add some respectability to the score, determined runs from Josh Aloiai and Ava Seumanufagai would put Wests Tigers on the attack and soon on the scoreboard through Christian Yassmin, who crashed over on the left wing for first points of the day.
A quick play the ball from Aloiai close to the line soon after would make it two tries in five minutes for David Heath’s side as Wesley Lolo spun his way over, with Luke Garner converting to cut the visitors’ lead to 38-10 with 20 minutes remaining in the contest.
However, North Sydney would again find the line and it would be the left edge attack again doing the damage, with Tasi finishing off the move for his fifth try of the day.
Levido was unable to convert, leaving the score at 42-10 in favour of the visitors, which is how it would remain as the sun set over the iconic Leichhardt Oval grandstand.
ISP FULL TIME — North Sydney Bears 42 (Tasi 5, Moceidreke, Kelly, Miski tries; Levido 4/8 goals) def. Wests Tigers 10 (Yassmin, Lolo tries; Garner 1/2 goals).
