Wests Tigers suffered a 36-18 loss to Manly Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tonight in round 20 of the Telstra Premiership.
The match marked the 200th game for Wests Tigers captain and hooker Robbie Farah and the 150th game for back-rower Liam Fulton. It was also the final home game at Campbelltown for departing players Benji Marshall and Blake Ayshford.
The loss has all but ended Wests Tigers hopes of making the finals with six rounds remaining.
Wests Tigers were denied a try to winger David Nofoaluma in the third minute when the video referee ruled the ball was knocked forward off a kick.
Manly opened the scoring in the sixth minute through a try to second-rower Justin Horo under the posts off a short grubber kick. Centre Jamie Lyon converted the try for a 6-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Nofoaluma scored one of the most spectacular tries of the season when he leapt high to defuse a crossfield Benji Marshall kick to put the ball down with his body hanging over the sideline. Marshall converted the try for a 6-all scoreline.
Manly went to a 10-6 lead in the 16th minute when centre Steve Matai brushed past Nofoaluma before stepping past three defenders out wide to score.
The Sea Eagles went to a 14-6 lead when Lyons raced 95 metres to score under the posts despite a gallant chase from Marshall. The try broke the back of the Wests Tigers after a pass from Braith Anasta fell short for winger Tim Simona who kicked the ball up only for Lyons to take it and race away. Lyon converted his own try for a 16-6 lead The score stayed that way till half-time.
2nd Half
Manly stretched their lead to 20-6 when Lyon scored a runaway try off a Wests Tigers mistake. He converted his own try for a 22-6 lead after 52 minutes.
The Sea Eagles went to a 26-6 lead when Justin Horo scored a try in the left corner off a fumble from a crossfield kick. Lyon converted the try for a 28-6 lead.
Farah scored one of his trademark dummy half tries in the 56th minute under the posts for a 28-10 scoreline. Marshall converted the try for a 28-12 scoreline.
Simona got Wests Tigers back to 28-16 when he dived over in the left corner in the 59th minute. Marshall converted the try for a 28-18 scoreline.
Manly converted a penalty goal from 15 metres in front in the 69th minute for a 30-18 lead.
The Sea Eagles wrapped up victory in the 74th minute when half-back Daly Cherry-Evans got on the outside of Anasta to race 20 metres to score behind the posts. Lyon converted the try for a 36-18 scoreline.
The match marked the 200th game for Wests Tigers captain and hooker Robbie Farah and the 150th game for back-rower Liam Fulton. It was also the final home game at Campbelltown for departing players Benji Marshall and Blake Ayshford.
The loss has all but ended Wests Tigers hopes of making the finals with six rounds remaining.
Wests Tigers were denied a try to winger David Nofoaluma in the third minute when the video referee ruled the ball was knocked forward off a kick.
Manly opened the scoring in the sixth minute through a try to second-rower Justin Horo under the posts off a short grubber kick. Centre Jamie Lyon converted the try for a 6-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Nofoaluma scored one of the most spectacular tries of the season when he leapt high to defuse a crossfield Benji Marshall kick to put the ball down with his body hanging over the sideline. Marshall converted the try for a 6-all scoreline.
Manly went to a 10-6 lead in the 16th minute when centre Steve Matai brushed past Nofoaluma before stepping past three defenders out wide to score.
The Sea Eagles went to a 14-6 lead when Lyons raced 95 metres to score under the posts despite a gallant chase from Marshall. The try broke the back of the Wests Tigers after a pass from Braith Anasta fell short for winger Tim Simona who kicked the ball up only for Lyons to take it and race away. Lyon converted his own try for a 16-6 lead The score stayed that way till half-time.
2nd Half
Manly stretched their lead to 20-6 when Lyon scored a runaway try off a Wests Tigers mistake. He converted his own try for a 22-6 lead after 52 minutes.
The Sea Eagles went to a 26-6 lead when Justin Horo scored a try in the left corner off a fumble from a crossfield kick. Lyon converted the try for a 28-6 lead.
Farah scored one of his trademark dummy half tries in the 56th minute under the posts for a 28-10 scoreline. Marshall converted the try for a 28-12 scoreline.
Simona got Wests Tigers back to 28-16 when he dived over in the left corner in the 59th minute. Marshall converted the try for a 28-18 scoreline.
Manly converted a penalty goal from 15 metres in front in the 69th minute for a 30-18 lead.
The Sea Eagles wrapped up victory in the 74th minute when half-back Daly Cherry-Evans got on the outside of Anasta to race 20 metres to score behind the posts. Lyon converted the try for a 36-18 scoreline.
