Wests Tigers recorded a hard fought 22-20 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval tonight in round 11 of the Telstra Premiership.
In front of a crowd of 7125, the match was played in wet conditions but for those Wests Tigers supporters who braved the weather, they would have walked away very excited after seeing their team end a seven game losing streak. It was the third win of the season for Wests Tigers.
The Cowboys opened the scoring in the fourth minute when a charge down from a Benji Marshall kick saw the ball kicked ahead by the visitors for second-rower Tariq Sims to score. Five-eighth and captain Jonathan Thurston failed to convert the try for a 4-0 scoreline.
Five minutes later, a grubber kick by Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah saw the ball bounce off Cowboys half-back Robert Lui for Marshall to gather the ball with one hand before planting it down with two hands to score. The referee ruled no try but it was over ruled by the video referee after extensive replays showed Marshall didnt knock the ball on. He converted his own try for a 6-4 lead to Wests Tigers after 10 minutes.
Four minutes later, Cowboys winger Ashley Graham planted the ball down in a tackle made by opposite winger Marika Koroibete. The referee ruled try but was over ruled by the video ref who decided graham planted the ball short of the white line.
The Cowboys were awarded a try in the 22nd minute to centre Kane Linnett from a grubber kick by full-back Matt Bowen for an 8-6 lead.
Thurston converted the try for a 10-6 scoreline after 23 minutes.
Koroibete got on the tryscoring list in the 34th minute when he bounced off a tackle by Bowen to slide over in the corner for a 10-all scoreline.
Marshall converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 12-10 lead. The score remained that way at half-time.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers went to a 16-10 lead in the 47th minute when a grubber kick by Farah saw prop Jack Buchanan score his first try in the NRL. Marshall converted from close range for a handy 18-10 lead.
Two minutes later, the Cowboys hit back when a spilt kick by centre Joel Reddy in-goal saw Sims score his second try for an 18-14 scoreline. Thurston failed to convert the try.
The Cowboys drew level in the 60th minute when winger Antonio Winterstein beat three defenders to score to make it 18-all. Thurston converted t give the Cowboys a 20-18 lead.
Nth Qld were denied a try in the 64th minute aft Graham was held up by Koroibete. Two minutes later, the Cowboys were awarded a penalty after Koroibete took out centre Brent Tate in an off the ball tackle. Koroibete left the field after with an ankle injury.
The Cowboys could have went to a 24-18 lead after a grubber kick by Thurston saw Linnett drop the ball in trying to plant it down in the 68th minute to leave the score at 20-18.
With heavy rain falling again in the dying minutes, Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods was held up over the line in the 78th minute.
The ball was then spread right with Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma diving over in the corner to score a superb try. Following several video replays, the try was awarded to give Wests Tigers a 22-20 lead and send the Wests Tigers faithful into wild celebrations with a minute remaining. It was Nofoalumas first try in just his second game in the NRL.
Marshall failed to convert the try. A short kick off saw the Cowboys get the ball back but some scrambling defence by the Wests Tigers saw them hold on for a well deserved victory.
In front of a crowd of 7125, the match was played in wet conditions but for those Wests Tigers supporters who braved the weather, they would have walked away very excited after seeing their team end a seven game losing streak. It was the third win of the season for Wests Tigers.
The Cowboys opened the scoring in the fourth minute when a charge down from a Benji Marshall kick saw the ball kicked ahead by the visitors for second-rower Tariq Sims to score. Five-eighth and captain Jonathan Thurston failed to convert the try for a 4-0 scoreline.
Five minutes later, a grubber kick by Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah saw the ball bounce off Cowboys half-back Robert Lui for Marshall to gather the ball with one hand before planting it down with two hands to score. The referee ruled no try but it was over ruled by the video referee after extensive replays showed Marshall didnt knock the ball on. He converted his own try for a 6-4 lead to Wests Tigers after 10 minutes.
Four minutes later, Cowboys winger Ashley Graham planted the ball down in a tackle made by opposite winger Marika Koroibete. The referee ruled try but was over ruled by the video ref who decided graham planted the ball short of the white line.
The Cowboys were awarded a try in the 22nd minute to centre Kane Linnett from a grubber kick by full-back Matt Bowen for an 8-6 lead.
Thurston converted the try for a 10-6 scoreline after 23 minutes.
Koroibete got on the tryscoring list in the 34th minute when he bounced off a tackle by Bowen to slide over in the corner for a 10-all scoreline.
Marshall converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 12-10 lead. The score remained that way at half-time.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers went to a 16-10 lead in the 47th minute when a grubber kick by Farah saw prop Jack Buchanan score his first try in the NRL. Marshall converted from close range for a handy 18-10 lead.
Two minutes later, the Cowboys hit back when a spilt kick by centre Joel Reddy in-goal saw Sims score his second try for an 18-14 scoreline. Thurston failed to convert the try.
The Cowboys drew level in the 60th minute when winger Antonio Winterstein beat three defenders to score to make it 18-all. Thurston converted t give the Cowboys a 20-18 lead.
Nth Qld were denied a try in the 64th minute aft Graham was held up by Koroibete. Two minutes later, the Cowboys were awarded a penalty after Koroibete took out centre Brent Tate in an off the ball tackle. Koroibete left the field after with an ankle injury.
The Cowboys could have went to a 24-18 lead after a grubber kick by Thurston saw Linnett drop the ball in trying to plant it down in the 68th minute to leave the score at 20-18.
With heavy rain falling again in the dying minutes, Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods was held up over the line in the 78th minute.
The ball was then spread right with Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma diving over in the corner to score a superb try. Following several video replays, the try was awarded to give Wests Tigers a 22-20 lead and send the Wests Tigers faithful into wild celebrations with a minute remaining. It was Nofoalumas first try in just his second game in the NRL.
Marshall failed to convert the try. A short kick off saw the Cowboys get the ball back but some scrambling defence by the Wests Tigers saw them hold on for a well deserved victory.
