Round 11
Wests Tigers 20 d. Gold Coast Titans 18

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Wests Tigers beat Titans in Leichhardt thriller
Mon May 26, 2008
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

Wests Tigers recorded a gutsy and spirited 20-18 victory over competition leaders Gold Coast Titans at Leichhardt Oval today in round 11 of the Telstra Premiership.

In front of a packed crowd at the historic ground, Wests Tigers led from start to finish in a cliffhanger of a game at the end.

Wests Tigers threw plenty at the Gold Coast Titans in the opening five minutes with some very aggressive defence that forced mistakes.

The "Tigers, Tigers, Tigers" chant around historic Leichhardt Oval is electrifying and lifted the Wests Tigers players.

It led to Wests Tigers second-rower Ben Te'o crashing over for a try in the eight minute after a good kick by five-eighth Benji Marshall.

Hodgson converted for a 6-0 lead.

Video referee Paul Simpkins was called on by referee Shayne Hayne in the 14th minute to rule if hooker Robbie Farah had scored from dummy half in a three man tackle. It came on the back of a strong run by prop Keith Galloway.

Simpkins ruled try to give Wests Tigers a 10-0 lead. Hodgson converted from next to the posts for a 12-0 lead after 15 minutes.

A drop ball by Titans lock Ashley Harrison in the 17th minute gave Wests Tigers the scrum feed 10 metres out from the Gold Coast tryline.

A smart grubber kick behind the defensive line by half-back Mathew Head saw full-back Preston Campbell trapped in-goal to force a drop out. The pressure was relieved when lock Dene Halatau knocked the ball on five metres out from the tryline on the last tackle after a poor option play involving winger Taniela Tuiaki.

The Titans punished Wests Tigers for the mistake when on the last tackle, half-back and former Wests Tigers star Scott Prince showed the ball right before stepping back inside to offload to forward Aaron Cannings to score under the posts.

Prince converted to leave the Titans trailing 12-6 after 23 minutes.

A penalty against Wests Tigers back-rower Corey Payne for a tackle on Matt Rogers resulted in a fight breaking out in the 27th minute, resulting in several players becoming involved.

Prop Bryce Gibbs was sent to the sin-bin as was Gold Coast hooker Nathan Friend for his involvement, leaving both sides with 12 men.

Some strong defence by Wests Tigers in their quarter kept the Titans at bay from the ensuing penalty.

A penalty against Titans five-eighth Mat Rogers for holding Marshall down too long in a tackle resulted in Hodgson taking a penalty attempt at goal from 22 metres out in the 35th minute.

Hodgson missed the attempt from out wide to leave it at 12-6.

Head was hit hard off the ball in a tackle by centre Luke O'Dwyer after backing up a break by Hodgson. The touch judge came in to report the incident after a knock-on by the Gold Coast.

Hayne awarded a penalty to Wests Tigers. Hodgson converted for a 14-6 lead after 38 minutes.

It remained that way to half-time. Wests Tigers players received a standing ovation from the Leichhardt Oval faithful.

2ND Half

Wests Tigers supporters were again on their feet in the Latchem Robinson Grandstand after a superb defensive effort by their team in the opening 10 minutes of the second half that stopped constant raids by the Titans.

Wests Tigers utility John Morris was penalised in the 54th minute for interference on Preston Campbell in not allowing him to play the ball correctly. It was a tough call as replays showed Campbell lost the ball.

Once again, Wests Tigers lifted in defence to keep the competition leaders at bay.

A great cover tackle by Hodgson on Prince saw him throw the ball back inside to Marshall as he headed over the sideline. The Titans were penalised for holding Marshall down too long in the tackle.

Wests Tigers took advantage of the penalty when on the last tackle, a great inside pass by Head saw Hodgson race 30 metres to score next to the posts.

Hodgson converted to give Wests Tigers a 20-6 lead after 60 minutes.

Wests Tigers winger Shannon McDonnell came within a metre of scoring in the 63rd minute when a kick on the last tackle by Marshall bounced into his arms. He set downfield for the tryline only to be tackled just short of the line. It was almost a freakish try.

The Titans scored a try in the 68th minute to winger Brenton Bowen after the ball was spread right. There was a hint of a forward pass in there but Hayne saw otherwise.

Prince converted the try for a 20-12 scoreline with 11 miinutes remaining.

A 40 metre run by Campbell saw him beat four defenders to score near the posts. Prince converted to leave the Titans trailing 20-18 with seven minutes remaining.

A freakish save by Titans winger and former Wests Tigers player Ben Jeffery saw the Gold Coast keep the ball after he tapped in back in from a potential 40/20 kick by Marshall.

Two plays later, a dancing Campbell got crunched in-goal by the Wests Tigers for a goal line drop out.

Wests Tigers lost the ball only to see the Titans turn it back over with four minutes remaining.

A forward pass by the Titans was picked up by Hayne with less than three minutes remaining to give Wests Tigers a scrum feed 40 metres out from the Gold Coast tryline.

There were heart stopping moments in the final minutes but Wests Tigers dug deep in defence to hold on for a well deserved 20-18 victory in front of 17,493 fans.

News Source: www.weststigers.com.au


Payne calls on men to support 'Call to Arms'
Fri May 23, 2008
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

Wests Tigers second-rower Corey Payne will have his grandmother in mind when he straps on a yellow armband on Sunday, May 25.

Payne has joined full-back and captain Brett Hodgson as one of faces for the Call To Arms campaign being run by The Cancer Council of NSW and Wests Tigers.

Call To Arms is a new Cancer Council fundraiser aimed at raising awareness about men's cancers and the impact cancer has on families.

Wests Tigers players will wear yellow armbands against the Gold Coast Titans at Leichhardt Oval in a show of support for Call To Arms.

For more information on Call To Arms or to register your sporting club, visit www.calltoarms.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85.

News Source: www.weststigers.com.au

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