Round 10
Tigers 16 l. Knights 18

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Knights edge out Wests Tigers in a cracking game
Mon May 15, 2006
Newcastle and Wests Tigers yesterday produced one of the best games of the season with the standard of football worthy of two very fine sides with the Knights winning 18-16 due to a late try from Brian Carney.

It was a match worthy of the Allan McMahon Shield with the Knights featuring players such as champion halfback Andrew Johns and NSW captain Danny Buderus and Wests Tigers fielding 13 of the 17 players who played in the Grand Final last year including the remarkable Benji Marshall.

David Seage opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he backed up a break from Johns to crossover. Johns converted to give Newcastle a 6-0 lead.

Wests Tigers struck back when Daniel Fitzhenry broke the Wests Tigers tryscoring record in the 15th minute after some great lead up work. Brett Hodgson was unable to convert with the Knights leading 6-4.

Marshall was selected off the bench and came on in the 25th minute to the cheers of the 14,000-strong crowd.

Newcastle reaped the benefits of a very controversial decision when Jamaal Lolesi was ruled to have knocked the ball on at the play the ball despite Knights players being all over the ruck area. A few tackles later from the scrum win, Johns put Steve Simpson over for Newcastle to lead 12-4.

Marshall created Wests second try when he put Shane Elford over in the corner two minutes before halftime. Hodgson converted the try with Newcastle holding onto a slender two point lead at the break.

Johns landed a penalty goal in the 58th minute to push Newcastle four points clear.

More magic from Marshall saw Wests Tigers gain the lead for the first time in the match in the 71st minute. Marshall showed the ball with one hand before offloading to Elford who raced 20 metres before sending the ball inside for Chris Heighington to score under the posts. Hodgson added the extras as Wests Tigers were all the sudden in front heading into the final stages of the match.

Great Britain winger Brian Carney scored the match-winner with three minutes remaining when he had the ball on the last tackle where he kicked ahead with the ball fumbled by Hodgson and in the scramble for the ball he toed ahead and scored. Hodgson claimed that Gidley pushed him in the back but video referee Bill Harrigan was quick to award the try. Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens said, "I'll have something to say if I find Gidley put his hand in on that last jump for the ball. I mean why look at it so fast. It's `I know everything Harrigan' I suppose. If he's right I'll apologise for that statement but if he's wrong, I'll expect one from him."

Newcastle held on in the final moments for a very crucial win that keeps them in equal second position with four sides on 14 points and four points clear of 7th position and the log jam for the top eight.


A sinking feeling for Wests Tigers
Mon May 15, 2006
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

The better side may have lost on the day but the Wests Tigers players walked out of the dressing rooms with their heads high after a thrilling match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Sunday, May 14.

Wests Tigers were beaten 18-16 by Newcastle Knights in front of a crowd of 14,499 in round 10 of the Telstra Premiership.

The victory saw Newcastle win back the Allan McMahon Shield contested between the two clubs. The shield has now been won twice by both clubs.

Coach Tim Sheens and captain Brett Hodgson said the players can be proud of their efforts against the Andrew Johns led Knights.

A touch of luck went Newcastle's way two minutes from full-time - and with it, went two competition points.

A try seven minutes from full-time by second-rower Chris Heighington gave the Wests Tigers a 16-14 lead. As the minutes ticked down, the Wests Tigers players lifted with every tackle made, only to see a piece of good fortune to Newcastle snatch victory away from them.

A chip kick over the top by Newcastle winger Brian Carney looked set to be taken by Hodgson before he was contested for the ball by centre Matt Gidley.

As the ball spilt to the ground, Carney toed it through to the in-goal before diving on it to score. Hodgson later claimed he felt Gidley pushed him in the back but video referee Bill Harrigan - who was quick to make a decision - ruled a fair try.

The decision left Sheens fuming at the post-match press conference.

"I'll have something to say if I find Gidley put his hand in on that last jump for the ball. I mean why look at it so fast," Sheens said.

"It's `I know everything Harrigan' I suppose. If he's right I'll apologise for that statement but if he's wrong, I'll expect one from him."

In an entertaining game, none were better for the Wests Tigers than Hodgson, who surely booked himself the NSW full-back jersey with a first class performance.

Trailing 6-0 early after a try to Newcastle full-back David Seage, Wests Tigers hit back with a fine try to winger Daniel Fitzhenry after a good break by Jamaal Lolesi.

Hodgson missed the conversion to leave the Wests Tigers trailing 6-4.

In scoring, Fitzhenry became the leading tryscorer for the Wests Tigers with 31 tries from 89 games.

Newcastle went to a 12-4 lead after Johns ran to the line before offloading an inside pass for Steve Simpson to score.

Wests Tigers hit back to trail 12-10 at half-time when a darting run by five-eighth Benji Marshall saw winger Shane Elford crash over for in the corner. Hodgson converted the try from the sideline.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Wests Tigers were denied the lead when centre Dean Collis lost the ball over the line in a heavy tackle.

Three minutes later, a Johns penalty goal stretched the lead to 14-10.

Wests Tigers took the lead when Heighington scored nine minutes from full-time after some Marshall magic.

Running acrossfield, Marshall showed the ball with one hand before offloading to Elford who raced 20 metres before sending the ball inside for Heighington to score under the posts. Hodgson converted for a 16-14 lead.

Wests Tigers appeared set for a good victory until Carney scored that late try to sink the home side.

Report sent by: www.weststigers.com.au

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