Wests Tigers Pathways sides recorded mixed results across three venues over the weekend, with the NSW Women’s Premiership recording a victory to keep their finals hopes alive.
NSW Women’s Premiership vs Sharks: 28-10 win
Wests Tigers ran in seven tries to two in a dominant performance against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday.
In one of those rare feats, winger Modesty Tafeuni scored three tries with fellow winger Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski and centre Litia Fusi crossing for two tries each in a game that saw the Tigers lead 12-4 at half-time.
Vasilovski’s first try saw her finish off a backline shift before Tafeuni dived over eight minutes later for an 8-4 lead.
Ten minutes later, Tafeuni gave the Tigers an eight-point lead at the break after centre Jewel Faaui took a kick from five-eighth Amirah El-Abdallah to send her winger over.
Vasilovski got her second in the 50th minute after she showed some nice pace to cross in the corner for a 16-4 scoreline.
The Sharks got back to 16-10 after 58 minutes before Fusi showed some good determination to cross for two tries in four minutes to stretch the lead to 14.
The Tigers secured victory when Tafeuni dived over untouched in the 68th minute to claim her hat-trick.
The eighth-placed Wests Tigers now have this weekend off before tackling the Wentworthville Magpies at Ringrose Park on Saturday, 8 August, at 4pm.
Jersey Flegg vs Raiders: 34-26 win
The Canberra Raiders opened the game with two quick converted tries, putting the Wests Tigers on the back foot in Canberra.
It wasn't until the 22nd minute, when Lenny Plati came on, that the momentum began to shift. Five minutes later, Mitchell Taotua crossed on the right edge, with Jack Attard converting. Nine minutes later, Taotua grabbed his second try, with Attard again adding the extras to level the scores.
On the stroke of half-time, an Attard kick was deflected off a Raiders defender before being collected by Plati, who stormed 15 metres to score under the posts. Attard made no mistake with the straightforward conversion, giving the Tigers an 18-12 lead heading into the sheds.
The Raiders enjoyed a similar start to the second half, scoring two tries to reclaim the lead at 22-18. Filipe Huahula crossed on the left edge to level the scores at 22-all, providing the Tigers with a much-needed momentum shift.
Captain Jeriko Talisau then found Blake Van Drie, who crossed to put the visitors back in front.
It was another Taotua who bookended the scoring for the day, with Maxwell darting over to seal the visitors' victory as the Tigers travelled back up the Hume Highway with a 34-26 win.
Next weekend, the sixth-placed Tigers will host the seventh-placed Parramatta Eels at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday, 2nd August at 11am.
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup vs Raiders: 32-4 loss
It was a tough, cold evening for the Western Suburbs Magpies at GIO Stadium, Canberra on Saturday night following the Club's NRL match.
With their team missing regular halves Latu Fainu (suspended) and Javon Andrews (NRL debut for Wests Tigers), the Magpies opened the scoring in the 15th minute through a try to winger Jeral Skelton off the back of a beautiful ball from full-back Heath Mason.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, that was the end of the road with the Raiders running in six consecutive tries to take the two competition points.
The loss leaves the Magpies in 10th place with five rounds remaining. The top five teams contest the finals.
Western Suburbs Magpies now play the 11th-placed Parramatta Eels at Lidcombe Oval at 1pm on Sunday, 2 August.
