Wests Tigers recorded a 22-18 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground today in round 5 of the NSW Cup.
It was a grinding victory for Wests Tigers Coach Paul Fletcher (pictured) and his men after leading 16-6 at half-time. The Bulldogs hit the lead late in the game before a try to Sean Meaney saw the visitors regain the lead.
The Bulldogs threw plenty at Wests Tigers in the final minute of the match but to no avail, giving the visitors a hard fought two competition points. Wests Tigers have now recorded three straight wins after losing their first two matches.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the third minute when the ball was spread right through several hands for winger Matt Utai to dive over in the corner for a 4-0 lead. Full-back and captain Sean Meaney failed to convert from the sideline.
A short grubber kick was spilt by the Bulldogs to allow Josh Davis to claim a try. Meaney converted to give Wests Tigers a 10-0 lead after 20 minutes.
A break down the left flank by centre Tim Simona saw him put in a nice kick inside for the ball to set up nicely for half-back Jacob Miller to dive over next to the posts . Meaney converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 16-0 lead after 25 minutes.
Canterbury half-back Trent Hodkinson stepped his way past two defenders from close range to score in the 30th minute. He converted his own try for a 16-6 lead.
Things became a little heated between the two sides in the dying stages of the first half after Bulldogs five-eighth Joel Romelo was placed on report. Wests Tigers hooker Masada Iosefa and Bulldogs prop David Klemmer were also spoken to by the referee after a little indiscretion.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers second-rower Jarred Farlow was placed on report early in the second half after taking Bulldogs full-back Drury Low out in defusing a bomb.
The Bulldogs got their second try in the 51st minute when Low scored from a great one handed offload near the posts. Hodkinson converted the try to leave the Bulldogs trailing 16-12.
Winger Daniel Abou-Sleiman got the Bulldogs level at 16-all in the 69th minute when he dived over in the left corner for a try. Hodkinson converted for an 18-16 scoreline.
A good break and offload by prop Shaun Spence saw him send Meaney on a 40 metre run to score under the posts to put Wests Tigers back in front. Meaney converted the try for a 22-18 lead after 74 minutes.
Wingers Matt Utai and Jy Hithcox each punched the ball dead in the final minute to deny the Bulldogs.
Wests Tigers team
1 Sean Meaney (c), 2 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 3 Tim Simona, 4 Rory Brien, 5 Matt Utai, 6 Jack Madden, 7 Jacob Miller, 14 Michael Bullock, 9 Masada Iosefa, 10 Shaun Spence, 11 Jarred Farlow, 17 Josh Davis, 13 Joel Luani; interchange: 15 David Harris, 16 Asipeli Fine, 18 Ino Inosesio, 20 Jy Hitchcox
It was a grinding victory for Wests Tigers Coach Paul Fletcher (pictured) and his men after leading 16-6 at half-time. The Bulldogs hit the lead late in the game before a try to Sean Meaney saw the visitors regain the lead.
The Bulldogs threw plenty at Wests Tigers in the final minute of the match but to no avail, giving the visitors a hard fought two competition points. Wests Tigers have now recorded three straight wins after losing their first two matches.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the third minute when the ball was spread right through several hands for winger Matt Utai to dive over in the corner for a 4-0 lead. Full-back and captain Sean Meaney failed to convert from the sideline.
A short grubber kick was spilt by the Bulldogs to allow Josh Davis to claim a try. Meaney converted to give Wests Tigers a 10-0 lead after 20 minutes.
A break down the left flank by centre Tim Simona saw him put in a nice kick inside for the ball to set up nicely for half-back Jacob Miller to dive over next to the posts . Meaney converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 16-0 lead after 25 minutes.
Canterbury half-back Trent Hodkinson stepped his way past two defenders from close range to score in the 30th minute. He converted his own try for a 16-6 lead.
Things became a little heated between the two sides in the dying stages of the first half after Bulldogs five-eighth Joel Romelo was placed on report. Wests Tigers hooker Masada Iosefa and Bulldogs prop David Klemmer were also spoken to by the referee after a little indiscretion.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers second-rower Jarred Farlow was placed on report early in the second half after taking Bulldogs full-back Drury Low out in defusing a bomb.
The Bulldogs got their second try in the 51st minute when Low scored from a great one handed offload near the posts. Hodkinson converted the try to leave the Bulldogs trailing 16-12.
Winger Daniel Abou-Sleiman got the Bulldogs level at 16-all in the 69th minute when he dived over in the left corner for a try. Hodkinson converted for an 18-16 scoreline.
A good break and offload by prop Shaun Spence saw him send Meaney on a 40 metre run to score under the posts to put Wests Tigers back in front. Meaney converted the try for a 22-18 lead after 74 minutes.
Wingers Matt Utai and Jy Hithcox each punched the ball dead in the final minute to deny the Bulldogs.
Wests Tigers team
1 Sean Meaney (c), 2 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 3 Tim Simona, 4 Rory Brien, 5 Matt Utai, 6 Jack Madden, 7 Jacob Miller, 14 Michael Bullock, 9 Masada Iosefa, 10 Shaun Spence, 11 Jarred Farlow, 17 Josh Davis, 13 Joel Luani; interchange: 15 David Harris, 16 Asipeli Fine, 18 Ino Inosesio, 20 Jy Hitchcox
