Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg have sprung an upset in their Round 13 clash on Saturday by keeping the in-form Canberra Raiders scoreless in a 22-0 win at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Despite heading in to the match off the back of four straight defeats, Wests Tigers defended brilliantly against the fourth-placed Raiders and took advantage of their moments in attack to emerge with a convincing victory in the end.
The win puts Wests Tigers back on the edge of the top eight with three consecutive home games coming up at Campbelltown Sports Stadium later this month.
After keeping the visitors at bay early in the contest, Wests Tigers finally broke the scoring 10 minutes before half-time when a sharp left edge switch saw Zac Cini dive over untouched, with Ben Stevanovic converting from the sideline for a 6-0 lead.
Holding the narrow lead at the break, the home side would again turn defence in to attack when Curtis Wilson snatched an intercept on his own line — racing 100m down field to score in the 42nd minute and double his side's advantage.
Cini was causing the Raiders all sorts of problems on the left with his sharp left foot step, and after putting Aiden Young away with a lovely late offload, would help his side move further in front with a repeat set building pressure on the Raiders.
After three consecutive sets, it was a clever kick from Max Burey that found space in behind the line for Liam Scolari to collect just before the dead ball line.
Stevanovic — who had shifted to fullback with Logen Dillon off for a concussion test — continued his sharp afternoon with the boot with another conversion from the sideline to put Wests Tigers will in front with 20 minutes remaining in the contest.
It was fitting that Cini would put the icing on the cake for Wests Tigers inside the final five minutes, collecting a lovely late offload from Development Player Henry Lealuga-Puhotau to crash over for his second try of the afternoon.
Off the back of today's win, Wests Tigers will look to produce another upset next week when they take on the second-placed Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown.
Wests Tigers 22 (Cini 2, Wilson, Scolari tries; Stevanovic 3/4 goals) def. Canberra Raiders 0 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Match: Wests Tigers v Raiders
Round 13 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Logen DillonFullback for Raiders is number 1 Daine Spencer
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Aiden YoungWinger for Raiders is number 2 Lachlan Eveston
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Zac CiniCentre for Raiders is number 3 Harley Smith-Shields
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Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Curtis WilsonCentre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
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Winger for Wests Tigers is number 23 Liam SCOLARIWinger for Raiders is number 5 Jackson Stuart
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Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Max BureyFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jarrett Subloo
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Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Ben StevanovicHalfback for Raiders is number 7 Tobias Westcott
Forwards
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Sione TupouProp for Raiders is number 8 Charlie Rorke
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Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 15 Rajko JankovicHooker for Raiders is number 9 Liam Mock
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Prop for Wests Tigers is number 16 Mavoni TuifuaProp for Raiders is number 10 Silafano TITIUTI
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Henry Lealuga-Puhotau2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Duwanye Mariner
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2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Ben Seufale2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Kai O'Donnell
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Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Jordan MainLock for Raiders is number 13 Tom Robertson
Interchange
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 8 Felix SmithInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Joe Roberts
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Bennett WheelhouseInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Matthew Dragisic
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Lucas CastleInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Tyson Hodge
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Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 21 Kobe ChamberlainInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
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