A hat-trick from centre Max Taotua spearheaded Wests Tigers to a 34-22 victory over the Kaiviti Silktails in a high-energy Jersey Flegg Cup contest at Lidcombe Oval.
Match: Wests Tigers v Silktails
Round 23 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
7th Position
away Team
Silktails
14th Position
Venue: Lidcombe Oval, Sydney
The Tigers opened the scoring in the 3rd minute through Tino Tavana, before Kaiviti hit back four minutes later via Melikiseteki Nacaginimasei.
Wests regained the lead when Solomone Saukuru and Josh Feledy combined to send captain Brenden Naicori over in the corner, but the visitors again responded, with Samuela Ratavola levelling the contest.
Jared Haywood’s powerful dummy-half try put the Tigers ahead once more, and Naicori capitalised on a Kaiviti handling error to score his second just before halftime, giving the home side an 18-10 lead at the break.
The second half belonged to Taotua, who crossed in the 42nd minute after sharp lead-up work from Pheonix Godinet and Iverson Matai, before doubling up four minutes later from a spilled bomb.
Feledy then scored off another high-ball error, and Taotua completed his treble in the 53rd minute after running onto an inside ball from Matai.
Kaiviti rallied with two converted tries in the final 17 minutes, but the damage was done, with Wests Tigers holding firm to secure a 34-22 win.
Wests Tigers 34 (Ma. Taotua 3, Naicori 2, Tavana, Haywood, Feledy tries; Tavana 1/5 goals, Liles 0/2 goals) defeated Silktails 22 (Nacaginimasei, Ratavola, Mainalovo, Mataiwai tries; Vunibola 2/2 goals, Mainalovo 1/2 goals) at Lidcombe Oval.
