Round 3
Wests Tigers 40 d. Sydney Roosters 24

2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Wests Tigers recover from bad start to beat Roosters
Sat March 28, 2009
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

A brilliant second half effort, led by half-back Benji Marshall, saw the Wests Tigers record a thrilling 40-24 victory over the Sydney Roosters ay the Sydney Football Stadium.

Marshall was at his explosive best and just destroyed the Roosters with his running game while giant winger Taniela Tuiaki crossed for two tries in a powerful performance.

Wests Tigers second-rower Gareth Ellis let opponent Willie Mason know he was here with a solid hit in the third minute, much to the roar of the large Wests Tigers crowd. Wests Tigers supporters far outnumber the Roosters fans.

Wests Tigers had the chance to score in the fifth minute when a perfectly placed grubber kick by half-back Benji Marshall saw the ball bounce a little too high for winger Taniela Tuiaki, who knocked it on just short of the line.

The Roosters opened the scoring in the 7th minute when centre Mitchell Aubusson scored out wide. Two plays earlier, Aubusson stripped the ball one on one on full-back Tim Moltzen after he neatly cleaned up a grubber kick by half-back Mitchell Pearce. Second-rower Craig Fitzgibbon converted the try for a 6-0 lead after nine minutes.

Two minutes later, Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall leapt above winger Beau Ryan to take a high Pearce bomb before offloading to Mitchell Aubusson to score his second try for a 10-0 lead. Fitzgibbon converted the try for a 12-0 lead.

Wests Tigers hit back in the 17th minute through a try to centre Dean Collis. It started with a good offload five metres out from the tryline by prop Bryce Gibbs to hooker Robbie Farah ,who offloaded the ball to Marshall who sent a cut out pass to Collis to race 10 metres to dive over out wide. Marshall failed to convert to leave Wests Tigers trailing 12-4.

Some razzle dazzle play by the Wests Tigers inside the Roosters quarter saw the team get a repeat set of six after a grubber kick in-goal on the last tackle by Marshall.
The pressure valve was released when a loose pass went into the arms of the Roosters. Marshall has been taking the Roosters on in attack, even charging into the forwards in his own half.

Wests Tigers hit back in the 28th minute when a drop ball by Fitzgibbon in a two man tackle saw centre Chris Lawrence pick the ball up to race 20 metres to score under the posts. It was a good way for Lawrence to celebrate his 50th game for Wests Tigers. Marshall converted to leave Wests Tigers trailing 12-10 with 11 minutes remaining before half-time.

Referee Tony Archer called on the video referee four minutes from half-time to see if Collis was blocked in trying to make a tackle that led to a try to Kenny Dowall after a break by Mitchell Aubusson. Fitzgibbon converted the try for an 18-10 lead two minutes before half-time.

A minute later, the Roosters got a 40/20 through hooker James Aubusson. The ball was dropped on the first tackle from the scrum win. The scoreremained 18-10 at half-time.

2nd Half

Wests Tigers had half a chance to score in the 42nd minute when a break by Marshall saw Farah dart across field with Lawrence in support, only to lose the ball in a tackle. Wests Tigers elected to go for goal 20 metres out from in front of the posts two minutes later after Marshall was hit late by Pearce in a clearing kick. Marshall converted the goal to leave Wests Tigers trailing 18-12 after 45 minutes.

The Roosters were attacking the Wests Tigers tryline three minutes later but a forced pass by Pearce saw them knock-on. Wests Tigers fans leapt for joy in the 51st minute when Farah showed the ball and burrowed his way over from dummy half to score next to the posts. Marshall converted the try to make it 18-18 all after 52 minutes.

A brilliant piece of Marshall magic led to Tuiaki scoring in the corner to give Wests Tigers a 22-18 lead. On the last tackle, Payten ran to within 10 metres of the tryline before offloading to Marshall, who without looking, flicked the ball back behind his back with his right arm into the arms of Lawrenc e who offloaded to Tuiaki to dive over in the corner. Tuiaki has now 25 tries for Wests Tigers. Marshall failed to convert from the sideline to give Wests Tigers a 22-18 lead with 24 minutes remaining.

The Roosters levelled three minutes later when Braith Anasta scored after the ball was spread left and Anasta latched on to a flick pass from Sam Perrett to score near the posts.
Fitzgibbon converted to give the Roosters a 24-22 lead after 60 minutes.

From the re-start, Nate Myles knocked on to give Wests Tigers the scrum feed 10 metres out. Lawrence dropped the ball from the scrum win before going into touch. Wests Tigers regained the lead when Tuaiki crashed over for his second try after Roosters debutant winger Sonny Tuigamala dropped a spiralling bomb by Marshall. Lawrence regathered the ball before offloading to Tuiaki who beat three four defenders with his strength to score in the corner. Marshall converted the try from the sideline to give Wests Tigers a 28-24 lead with 12 minutes remaining.

Wests Tigers were threatening the Roosters line when a chip kick by Marshall hit the crossbar and bounced back into the arms of the Roosters. Two plays later, Wests Tigers were penalised for offside.

The Roosters were on the attack inside the Wests Tigers quarter but the defence held strong. A grubber kick on the last tackle weas defused by Moltzen.

Three plays later, a 40 metre break by Tuiaki saw him pulled down 20 metres out from the tryline. A quick play the ball saw Farah put a crossfield kick for Lawrence to leap high and tap the ball back into the arms of Moltzen to dive over in the corner to send Wests Tigers fans into a frenzy. Marshall converted from the sideline for a 34-24 lead with four minutes remaining to full-time.

Wests Tigers fans chanted 'Tigers, Tigers, Tigers' as Farah kicked a 40/20 from dummy half inside the final minute. The video referee was called on to see whether Lawrence had grounded the ball for his second try. He did, to the huge cheer of the Wests Tigers faithful who started to remind the Roosters supporters that the SFS was 'Wests Tigers turf'. Marshall converted the try on full-time to give Wests Tigers an incredible 40-24 victory. For the Wests Tigers fans in the crowd of 14.426, it will be a night to saviour for a very long time.

Wests Tigers Fans Blog

NRL Stats: Wests Tigers 40 v Roosters 24
NYC Stats: Wests Tigers 18 v Roosters 10
Wests Tigers v Roosters Discussion Thread


Friday Night Footy Betting Preview From rleagueBetting.com
Fri March 27, 2009
The Wests Tigers entertain the Roosters to kick-off NRL Round 3 on Friday Night.

The Tigers are best odds $2.39 with Pinnacle Sports and you can get $1.67 for a Roosters victory at both Sportingbet and Sports Alive.

The Roosters should have too much class in this one, and the $2.01 odds of a victory by 4 or more points at Pinnacle Sports are attractive.

Consider Braith Anasta to score a try during the game, he's paying $2.25 at Sportingbet.

Debutant Sonny Tuigamala is a well priced $16 to be first try scorer at Sports Alive

Click Here to compare odds on Tigers vs Roosters

This match will be followed up by the Titans and the Bulldogs in what promises to be a tough and aggressive encounter. The Tri-Bet market shows an attactive $3 for either team to win by 6 or less at Sports Alive.

Only one team has ever bounced back from losing 2 competition points, but you can get $2.30 at Sportsbet for a Doggies victory.

The Titans are best priced $1.82 at Sportingbet.

It's worth considering a Titans/Bulldogs Halftime/Normaltime double paying $8 at Sportsbet, or $7.50 for a Bulldogs/Titans double also at Sportsbet.

Jamal Idris is paying a healthy $14 at Sports Alive to be first try scorer, or $1.95 at Sportingbet to score a try any time during the game.

Click Here to compare odds on Titans vs Bulldogs

* Note all prices are subject to change

Fri March 27, 2009
• Preview: Wests Tigers v Roosters - 2009 NRL Round 3
  
Tue March 24, 2009
• Perrett named as new Roosters fullback
  

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