Wests Tigers 23 (Lawrence, Richards, Tedesco tries; Richards 5/5 goals; Richards field goal) def. Newcastle Knights 20 (Uate 3, Roberts tries; Roberts 2/3 goals).
Round 13, 2014 at Hunter Stadium Newcastle (Sunday, June 8).
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Boosted by the return of star fullback James Tedesco for his first game back from an ankle injury suffered in Round 5, Wests Tigers began their match against Newcastle in perfect fashion, with the Italian international Tedesco diving over after just six minutes of play.
That lead was extended to 8-0 shortly after when a good run from Luke Brooks found the Knights' defenders offside — allowing Richards to push the lead to eight points.
The Knights hit back in the 16th minute when Akuila Uate dived over for his try of the day, before controversially taking the lead in the 26th minute through Tyrone Roberts, with the halfback scoring a try despite Braith Anasta appearing to ground the ball.
To make matters worse for the visitors, Anasta would be helped from the field with concussion, while Sauaso Sue would be taken off with injury as well.
Roberts' successful conversion gave the home side a 10-8 lead, which they would hold into the break, before a well-worked move from Brooks and Richards after half-time saw the veteran winger plant the ball down out wide and restore Wests Tigers' four point lead.
Strong attacks from Darius Boyd and Uate would see the Knights pull back in front in the 53rd minute, while the kicking game of Jarred Mullen continued to frustrate the visitors.
The Knights were seemingly in control to grind out a result, before an incredible 40/20 kick on fifth tackle from Brooks gave Wests Tigers good field position, with Knights skipper Kurt Gidley sin-binned soon after for not allowing a quick tap from Robbie Farah.
Richards added that penalty goal to level the match at 16-all, before producing an incredible sideline field goal from 30m out moments later to put his team in the lead.
Wests Tigers continued to attack the shorthanded Knights, and would seal the result in the 69th minute when Tedesco combined well on the left to put Chris Lawrence over, with Richards' perfect goalkicking taking the visitors to a 23-16 lead.
Uate would crash over late to complete his hat-trick, but it would be all in vain for the home side, with Wests Tigers hanging on for the most remarkable of victories.
Watch the full match highlights from the 23-20 win in the video above.
Wests Tigers will take on the Knights for their Round 10 clash on Sunday, May 17.
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