Wests Tigers Under 20s scored an impressive 40-22 victory over the last-placed Manly Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tonight.
Mitchell Moses was a stand-out in the victory as Todd Payten's side pushed their claims for a top four spot after disappointing losses to the Warriors and Sharks in recent weeks.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the fifth minute when centre Manaia Rudolph sliced through a gap out wide to score in the corner for a 4-0 lead. Rudolph failed to convert his own try.
Rudolph then scored a remarkable try when winger Delouse Hoeter put through a grubber kick twice for the centre to score for an 8-0 lead a few minutes later.
Hoeter then swooped on a grubber kick to score in the 17th minute for a 12-0 lead. Rudolph failed to convert the try.
Second-rower Brenden Santi then ran a great line to score next to the posts in the 25th minute to give Wests Tigers a 16-0 lead. Rudolph converted the try for an 18-0 lead.
Manly opened their account in the 30th minute when full-back Matt Ikuvalu carried three defenders to score in the corner for a 18-4 scoreline. The try was not converted.
Wests Tigers forward Andrew Kazzi stopped a try when he held up Manly player over the line in the 35th minute. The next play saw Manly score through PJ Lose for an 18-8 scoreline. Centre Regan Haika converted the try to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 18-10 after 37 minutes.
Manly winger Luke Bartley got the visitors back to 18-14 when he crossed in the left corner in the 53rd minute. Haika converted from the sideline to leave Manly trailing 18-16.
Wests Tigers stretched their lead to 22-16 when centre Nathan Milone finished off a backline play to dive over in the left corner in the 59th minute. The referee awarded an eight point try after some foul play on Milone when he scored. Rudolph failed to convert the try from out wide but converted from in front of the posts for a 24-16 lead.
Off the very next set, Moses raced away early in the tackle count and scored under the posts. With Rudolph adding the extras, a 30-16 lead with 15 minutes remaining looked promising for the home side.
However, Manly hit straight back with interchange forward Daniel Vasek barging his way over from close range. A conversion from Haika set the game up for a grandstand finish as the scoreline read 30-22 with 12 minutes to go.
A touch of class down the left edge all but put the game out of reach for the visitors, with Kurtis Rowe on the end of the slick backline move. Rudolph was unsuccessful from touch, but Wests Tigers held a 34-22 lead with just three minutes to go.
Another attacking opportunity presented itself for the home side as a wayward offload was scooped up by Andrew Kazzi who crossed late in the match. Rudolph converted for a final scoreline of 40-22, with Todd Payten's side getting back on the winners list in style.
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Mitchell Moses was a stand-out in the victory as Todd Payten's side pushed their claims for a top four spot after disappointing losses to the Warriors and Sharks in recent weeks.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the fifth minute when centre Manaia Rudolph sliced through a gap out wide to score in the corner for a 4-0 lead. Rudolph failed to convert his own try.
Rudolph then scored a remarkable try when winger Delouse Hoeter put through a grubber kick twice for the centre to score for an 8-0 lead a few minutes later.
Hoeter then swooped on a grubber kick to score in the 17th minute for a 12-0 lead. Rudolph failed to convert the try.
Second-rower Brenden Santi then ran a great line to score next to the posts in the 25th minute to give Wests Tigers a 16-0 lead. Rudolph converted the try for an 18-0 lead.
Manly opened their account in the 30th minute when full-back Matt Ikuvalu carried three defenders to score in the corner for a 18-4 scoreline. The try was not converted.
Wests Tigers forward Andrew Kazzi stopped a try when he held up Manly player over the line in the 35th minute. The next play saw Manly score through PJ Lose for an 18-8 scoreline. Centre Regan Haika converted the try to leave the Sea Eagles trailing 18-10 after 37 minutes.
Manly winger Luke Bartley got the visitors back to 18-14 when he crossed in the left corner in the 53rd minute. Haika converted from the sideline to leave Manly trailing 18-16.
Wests Tigers stretched their lead to 22-16 when centre Nathan Milone finished off a backline play to dive over in the left corner in the 59th minute. The referee awarded an eight point try after some foul play on Milone when he scored. Rudolph failed to convert the try from out wide but converted from in front of the posts for a 24-16 lead.
Off the very next set, Moses raced away early in the tackle count and scored under the posts. With Rudolph adding the extras, a 30-16 lead with 15 minutes remaining looked promising for the home side.
However, Manly hit straight back with interchange forward Daniel Vasek barging his way over from close range. A conversion from Haika set the game up for a grandstand finish as the scoreline read 30-22 with 12 minutes to go.
A touch of class down the left edge all but put the game out of reach for the visitors, with Kurtis Rowe on the end of the slick backline move. Rudolph was unsuccessful from touch, but Wests Tigers held a 34-22 lead with just three minutes to go.
Another attacking opportunity presented itself for the home side as a wayward offload was scooped up by Andrew Kazzi who crossed late in the match. Rudolph converted for a final scoreline of 40-22, with Todd Payten's side getting back on the winners list in style.
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