Wests Tigers Under 20s had a 36-24 victory over the league leading Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium today.
The Wests Tigers side looked impressive, forcing just the Raiders second loss of the season as they climb further into the eight.
An early opportunity went begging six minutes in when five-eighth Matt Mulcahy dived over from dummy-half but was penalised for using the marker as an obstruction.
The Raiders took it down the other end on the next set with Patrick Mago hitting a hole and linking up with five-eighth Jack Ahearn on the inside who scored under the posts. Jordan Worboys converted the try for a 6-0 lead after seven minutes.
It took 18 minutes for the Wests Tigers to get on the scoreboard, with in-form halfback Luke Brooks giving a great short ball to Manaia Cherrington who barged his way over from close range. Manaia Rudolph locked up the scores at 6-all with the conversion.
Quick hands from Rudolph sent Kurtis Rowe over in the corner in the 20th minute, with the Rudolph then adding the extras from the sideline for a 12-6 lead.
The Raiders were quick to hit back with Ahearn giving a perfect offload to a barnstorming Josh Baker who carried two defenders over the line. Worboys missed what seemed like a certain conversion, resulting in the Wests Tigers holding a 12-10 lead after 25 minutes.
Hardworking back-rower Kyle Lovett barged his way over in the left corner after 33 minutes, fending off some flimsy Raiders defence. Rudolph made it three from three with the conversion to put his side up 18-10.
Raiders got one back three minutes out from half time, with Tahakilu Pangai busting through 15 metres out on the left edge. Jono Kent missed the goal from close range and the score remained 18-14.
Receiving a penalty on half time, the Raiders went for the points 40 metres out but Kent was again unsuccessful. The Wests Tigers went into the sheds with a 18-14 lead over the Raiders.
Raiders were the first to score following the break with Mago giving centre Eli Roberts an excellent short ball to dive over. Kent missed the conversion, with the scores all tied up at 18-all after 47 minutes.
Canberra were at it again in the 56th minute, going through several sets of hands before Ricky Garrard put in a grubber for Roberts to grab his second try. Kent converted the try from out wide and the Raiders held a 24-18 lead.
With 12 minutes remaining, Brooks showed a touch of brilliance to duck under three Raiders defenders and score a great individual try. Rudolph converted to tie the scores up again at 24-all.
Brooks halves partner Matt Mulcahy replicated Brooks effort three minutes later, stepping his way through the defence as the Wests Tigers hit the lead. Rudolph was again on target the score was out to 30-24.
Kurtis Rowe rubbed salt in to the wounds of the Raiders in the 74th minute, scooping up a loose ball and running 70 metres to score. A commanding 36-24 in the dying minutes looked to be enough to force just the Raiders second loss of the year.
In a tense finish to the match, an all in brawl saw players leave the field from both sides. For the Wests Tigers, Nathan Brown was sent off and Kyle Lovett was sent to the sin bin. For the Raiders, Mitchell Barnett was sent off and Tahakilu Pangai was sent to the bin.
The Wests Tigers side looked impressive, forcing just the Raiders second loss of the season as they climb further into the eight.
An early opportunity went begging six minutes in when five-eighth Matt Mulcahy dived over from dummy-half but was penalised for using the marker as an obstruction.
The Raiders took it down the other end on the next set with Patrick Mago hitting a hole and linking up with five-eighth Jack Ahearn on the inside who scored under the posts. Jordan Worboys converted the try for a 6-0 lead after seven minutes.
It took 18 minutes for the Wests Tigers to get on the scoreboard, with in-form halfback Luke Brooks giving a great short ball to Manaia Cherrington who barged his way over from close range. Manaia Rudolph locked up the scores at 6-all with the conversion.
Quick hands from Rudolph sent Kurtis Rowe over in the corner in the 20th minute, with the Rudolph then adding the extras from the sideline for a 12-6 lead.
The Raiders were quick to hit back with Ahearn giving a perfect offload to a barnstorming Josh Baker who carried two defenders over the line. Worboys missed what seemed like a certain conversion, resulting in the Wests Tigers holding a 12-10 lead after 25 minutes.
Hardworking back-rower Kyle Lovett barged his way over in the left corner after 33 minutes, fending off some flimsy Raiders defence. Rudolph made it three from three with the conversion to put his side up 18-10.
Raiders got one back three minutes out from half time, with Tahakilu Pangai busting through 15 metres out on the left edge. Jono Kent missed the goal from close range and the score remained 18-14.
Receiving a penalty on half time, the Raiders went for the points 40 metres out but Kent was again unsuccessful. The Wests Tigers went into the sheds with a 18-14 lead over the Raiders.
Raiders were the first to score following the break with Mago giving centre Eli Roberts an excellent short ball to dive over. Kent missed the conversion, with the scores all tied up at 18-all after 47 minutes.
Canberra were at it again in the 56th minute, going through several sets of hands before Ricky Garrard put in a grubber for Roberts to grab his second try. Kent converted the try from out wide and the Raiders held a 24-18 lead.
With 12 minutes remaining, Brooks showed a touch of brilliance to duck under three Raiders defenders and score a great individual try. Rudolph converted to tie the scores up again at 24-all.
Brooks halves partner Matt Mulcahy replicated Brooks effort three minutes later, stepping his way through the defence as the Wests Tigers hit the lead. Rudolph was again on target the score was out to 30-24.
Kurtis Rowe rubbed salt in to the wounds of the Raiders in the 74th minute, scooping up a loose ball and running 70 metres to score. A commanding 36-24 in the dying minutes looked to be enough to force just the Raiders second loss of the year.
In a tense finish to the match, an all in brawl saw players leave the field from both sides. For the Wests Tigers, Nathan Brown was sent off and Kyle Lovett was sent to the sin bin. For the Raiders, Mitchell Barnett was sent off and Tahakilu Pangai was sent to the bin.
