Wests Tigers have kept their season alive with a stirring 32-20 victory over the high-flying Penrith Panthers in Round 20 of the Jersey Flegg Cup at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Match: Wests Tigers v Panthers
Round 20 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
7th Position
away Team
Panthers
3rd Position
Venue: Lidcombe Oval, Sydney
In a must-win clash against the third-placed Panthers, the Tigers put together a quality performance - scoring six tries to four and overcoming a second-half fightback from Penrith to snap their five-game winning streak.
After a frantic opening that saw the Panthers recover their own short kick-off, it was indeed Penrith who struck first through Jirah Liddiard, before Wests Tigers levelled the score when Max Taotua finished a well-worked right-edge movement in the 11th minute.
The Tigers soon went back-to-back through a powerful effort from Lachlan Broederlow, before a long-range charge-down try from hooker Jared Haywood swung momentum firmly in the home side’s favour.
Just before the break, Josh Feledy took advantage of some space through the middle, with the centre breaking through to score the Tigers’ fourth. With Tino Tavana adding the extras, Wests took a commanding 20-4 lead into the sheds.
Penrith threatened to storm back into the contest with three tries in 12 minutes after the restart, including a second for Liddiard and a heads-up piece of play finished off by Poutoa Hotere-Papalii, squaring the scores at 20-all by the 52nd minute.
But the Tigers weren’t done. Mitch Taotua crossed off the back of some quality play from Josese Lanyon and Max Liles to put the visitors under pressure. Then, with the game still hanging in the balance, Logan Brookes iced it with a dummy and dart on the blind side to seal the match-winner in the 68th minute.
The victory was built on grit and creativity, with standout performances from Haywood, Liles, and both Taotua brothers. The Tigers’ attacking polish and improved defensive resilience proved decisive against one of the competition’s best sides.
Most importantly, the win gives Wests Tigers some hope heading into the final six rounds of the regular season.
Wests Tigers 32 (Ma. Taotua, Broederlow, Haywood, Feledy, Mi. Taotua, Brookes tries; Tavana 4/6 goals) defeated Panthers 20 (Liddiard 2, Hotere-Papalii, Raven tries; Liddiard 2/4 goals) at Lidcombe Oval.
