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Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg side have recorded their first win of the season with a convincing 34-10 win over the Victorian Thunderbolts on Saturday afternoon at Haines Drive Reserve.
After a frustrating draw in their opening game and disappointing defeat to the Bulldogs last weekend, Wayne Lambkin’s side finally produced the performance they’d been promising previously, with their attack clicking for the entire game to hand Wests Tigers a dominant 24-point win.
A change in the halves with the inclusion of Gus Garzaniti proved helpful for Wests Tigers, with the experienced playmaker scoring two tries and combining well with Jock Madden at halfback and Logen Dillon at fullback to set up the win.
Dillon scored two tries himself in the first half to put the visitors on the front foot, while Madden had a perfect afternoon with the boot, landing 5/5 conversions.
The result sees Wests Tigers creep to the edge of the top eight after Round 4 ahead of next week’s clash against the North Sydney Bears at Leichhardt Oval.
A late inclusion to the centres in place of Tommy Talau, Curtis Wilson got Wests Tigers off to the perfect start when he dived over in the opening minute of the game before Dillon made it 12-0 in the space of just five minutes with his first try.
Christopher Schwalger got the Thunderbolts on the board just before half-time and Antonio Sanele just after, but Dillon and Garzaniti were well in control of the game — adding another three tries between them to take the lead out to 20 points.
With an extra man advantage courtesy of a professional foul from the Thunderbolts, Wests Tigers 2019 Development Player Kane Bradley made it three tries in three games to start the year when he added a final four-pointer for his side late on.
Wests Tigers 34 (Dillon 2, Garzaniti 2, Wilson, Bradley tries; Madden 5/5 goals) def. Victorian Thunderbolts 10 (Schwalger, Sanele tries; Stimon 1/2 goals)
