Round 22
St.George-Illawarra Dragons 10 l. Wests Tigers 18

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

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

Marshall shines in Tigers victory over Dragons
Sat August 9, 2008
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

Wests Tigers recorded a hard fought but gutsy 18-10 win over St George-Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium in round 22 of the Telstra Premiership.

The victory moves Wests Tigers onto 24 points, equal with sixth placed St George-Illawarra.

St George-Illawarra opened the scoring against Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium in the third minute with a penalty goal to five-eighth Jamie Soward for a 2-0 lead.

Wests Tigers soaked up plenty of pressure in the opening 10 minutes with the Dragons enjoying plenty of possession.

A quick tap from five-eighth Benji Marshall saw him race 20 metres before being tackled. A quick play the ball saw half-back Robbie Farah take off to catch a Dragons player offside to receive a penalty.

Marshall converted the penalty attempt to level the scores at 2-2 after 14 minutes.

Some enterprising play by Marshall from a kick downfield from a Dragons drop ball saw play go deep into the opposition territory. Two plays later, Wests Tigers received a penalty after being caught off-side.

Marshall converted the penalty attempt to give Wests Tigers a 4-2 lead after 22 minutes.

A great break by Shannon Gallant in the 23rd minute saw Wests Tigers 15 metres out from the Dragons tryline. On the last tackle, Farah put up a crossfield kick for winger Beau Ryan to leap high to take the ball to score to give Wests Tigers an 8-2 lead.

Marshall converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 10-2 lead after 27 minutes.

Play continued to go from one end to the other with Wests Tigers defence strong across the park.

Marshall converted another penalty goal after Beau Scott held down Daine Laurie too long in a tackle for a 12-2 lead at half-time.

2nd Half
The Dragons started the second half well when winger Josh Morris finished off an attacking raid on the last tackle to score in the corner. Wests Tigers' cause was not helped with Daine Laurie rushing up out of the line on the last tackle.

Soward converted to leave the Dragons trailing 12-8 after 48 minutes.

Wests Tigers prop Todd Payten was placed on report for a lifting spear tackle on centre Matt Cooper.

Soward converted a penalty goal after Wests Tigers were caught not marking up square to leave the Dragons trailing 12-10 with 28 minutes remaining.

Play continued to see-saw from one end to the other with the Wests Tigers defence remaining strong at times.

Dragons full-back Jason Nightingale went for a grubber kick to beat winger Taniela Tuiaki but knocked the ball on in regathering it 11 minutes from full-time.

A chip kick by Soward on the last tackle saw him regather the ball before losing it in a tackle by Gallant. Beau Ryan picked up the ball and raced 40 metres downfield before linking up with Marshall who raced 20 metres to beat Josh Morris to dive over in the corner to score.

The video referee was called on to see if Soward was held back off the ball but the try was awarded.

Marshall then converted the try from 27 metres back and on the touchline to give Wests Tigers an 18-10 lead with five minutes remaining.

The Dragons went on the attack late in the game but the great defence of the Wests Tigers again stood strong to record a hard fought 18-10 victory in front of a crowd of 14,207.

News Source: www.weststigers.com.au

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