Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg side have suffered a tough defeat at the hands of the Parramatta Eels on Saturday afternoon, going down 22-8 at Hillier Oval in Liverpool.
Still searching for their first win of the 2018 season, Craig Wilson's side threatened at times to steal the lead but were unable to deliver in the key moments and eventually slumped to a fourth straight defeat.
The result leaves Wests Tigers second last on the Jersey Flegg ladder alongside the winless Sea Eagles and Warriors — the latter of whom they will face next Saturday afternoon at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
After a tight start from both sides, Parramatta would post first points through Tuimavave Afualo before late inclusion Ethan Parry doubled the lead soon after. Sharp kicking from Dylan Brown would give the Eels a 12-0 lead after 22 minutes of play, before James Tautaiolefua would get one back on his opposite number — crashing over four minutes later to leave the Eels' lead at eight points with the missed conversion.
Wilson's side tried to stay in touch with their opponents as the match wore on, but a crucial try before half-time to Michael Cheer saw the Eels' lead extended beyond two tries at Hillier Oval.
Tautaiolefua's second try of the afternoon gave the hosts a sniff of a comeback with 20 minutes remaining and the score at 18-8, but a classy try from fullback Haze Dunster once again kept the Eels' motoring forward and would ensure that they finished the day with the two points in tow.
The two senior sides of both clubs will face off at ANZ Stadium on Monday with the Intrust Super Premiership game kicking off at 1:45pm before the NRL match at 4:00pm (both live on Fox League).
Parramatta Eels 22 (Afualo, Parry, Cheer, Dunster tries; Brown 3/4 goals) def. Wests Tigers 8 (Tautaiolefua 2 tries; Tautaiolefua 0/2 goals) at Hiller Oval
