Wests Tigers recorded a hard fought 38-18 victory over Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium tonight in round 9 of the Holden Cup competition.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the 11th minute when half-back Jake Walsh scored next to the posts. He converted his own try for a 6-0 lead.
It became 10-0 in the 16th minute when Wests Tigers full-back Kurtis Rowe dropped a bomb on his tryline for Sharks centre Crete Waaka to pounce on the ball to score. Walsh converted from close range for a 12-0 lead.
The Wests Tigers struck back in the 28th minute after Mitchell Moses put in a perfectly weighted grub for Brenden Santi to pounce on. Manaia Rudolph was unable to add the extras and the Sharks lead was now 12-4.
With just four minutes remaining in the first half, Mitch Moses put across a perfectly weighted cross-field kick to David Nofoaluma to pick up on the half-volley and score. Rudolph missed the tough conversion and the score was back to 12-8.
Moses had another touch of brilliance just a minute later when he chipped over the top to regather to step the full-back and barged his way through two defenders to score for a 12-all scoreline. Rudolph converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 14-12 lead at half-time.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers went to an 18-12 lead when five-eighth Matt Mulcahy stepped through two defenders to score behind the posts. Rudolph converted for a 20-12 lead.
Play was stopped for a short time when Wests Tigers forward Jake Dooner suffered a neck injury and was taken from the field.
The Sharks hit back when five-eighth Faamanu Brown barged his way over in the 55th minute for a 20-16 scoreline. Walsh converted for a 20-18 scoreline.
A strong run by prop Dallas Graham saw him brush off three defenders to score a solo 20 metre try in the 61st minute to give Wests Tigers a 24-18 lead. Rudolph converted for a 26-18 scoreline.
The Tigers added to their lead when Delouise Hoeter ran out from dummy half to crash over the line in the left corner in the 71st minute. Rudolph continued his good form and slotted the goal for a 32-18 lead.
Three minutes later, David Nofoaluma capitalised on a dropped ball by the Sharks and ran 50m to score under the posts. Rudolph quickly converted for a 38-18 scoreline.
Matt Mulcahy put the Tigers in great position with a 40/20 in the following set. But they were unable to capitalise on the opportunity and the score remained 38-18.
The score remained unchanged for the last five minutes, with the Wests Tigers coming away with their fifth win of the season, a convincing 38-18 over the 12th placed Cronulla Sharks in the Holden Cup.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the 11th minute when half-back Jake Walsh scored next to the posts. He converted his own try for a 6-0 lead.
It became 10-0 in the 16th minute when Wests Tigers full-back Kurtis Rowe dropped a bomb on his tryline for Sharks centre Crete Waaka to pounce on the ball to score. Walsh converted from close range for a 12-0 lead.
The Wests Tigers struck back in the 28th minute after Mitchell Moses put in a perfectly weighted grub for Brenden Santi to pounce on. Manaia Rudolph was unable to add the extras and the Sharks lead was now 12-4.
With just four minutes remaining in the first half, Mitch Moses put across a perfectly weighted cross-field kick to David Nofoaluma to pick up on the half-volley and score. Rudolph missed the tough conversion and the score was back to 12-8.
Moses had another touch of brilliance just a minute later when he chipped over the top to regather to step the full-back and barged his way through two defenders to score for a 12-all scoreline. Rudolph converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 14-12 lead at half-time.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers went to an 18-12 lead when five-eighth Matt Mulcahy stepped through two defenders to score behind the posts. Rudolph converted for a 20-12 lead.
Play was stopped for a short time when Wests Tigers forward Jake Dooner suffered a neck injury and was taken from the field.
The Sharks hit back when five-eighth Faamanu Brown barged his way over in the 55th minute for a 20-16 scoreline. Walsh converted for a 20-18 scoreline.
A strong run by prop Dallas Graham saw him brush off three defenders to score a solo 20 metre try in the 61st minute to give Wests Tigers a 24-18 lead. Rudolph converted for a 26-18 scoreline.
The Tigers added to their lead when Delouise Hoeter ran out from dummy half to crash over the line in the left corner in the 71st minute. Rudolph continued his good form and slotted the goal for a 32-18 lead.
Three minutes later, David Nofoaluma capitalised on a dropped ball by the Sharks and ran 50m to score under the posts. Rudolph quickly converted for a 38-18 scoreline.
Matt Mulcahy put the Tigers in great position with a 40/20 in the following set. But they were unable to capitalise on the opportunity and the score remained 38-18.
The score remained unchanged for the last five minutes, with the Wests Tigers coming away with their fifth win of the season, a convincing 38-18 over the 12th placed Cronulla Sharks in the Holden Cup.
