**Balmain Ryde-Eastwood secure second spot**
NSWRL Media
5/09/2010 4:38:52 PM
The Balmain-Ryde Eastwood Tigers have secured second place on the NSW Cup ladder with a hard fought 14-12 win over the Wentworthville Magpies at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
A penalty goal from Blake Lazarus in the 55th minute gave the Tigers a 14-6 lead but a brain explosion from Sam Latu gifted the Wenty side some solid field position and Jonathan Wright set up a enthralling final few minutes when he scored making the score 14-12.
Wentworthville front-rower Blake Blackburn knocked the ball on from the ensuing set of six after the kick-off and it was all she wrote.
Both teams struggled with the conditions with penalties and handling errors plaguing play for the majority of the first half.
Wenty finally broke the line when Tom Humble sent Nathan Armit crashing over from close range in the 30th minute.
Balmain Ryde-Eastwood answered back almost immediately when Ryan Carr regathered a grubber and crossed over just adjacent to the posts.
A try from inform front-rower David Gower, with just three seconds remaining in the first half, gave the Tigers a 12-6 lead heading into the break.
Both teams will have a nervous wait at the NSWRL Judiciary this week with a number of players placed on report.
Balmain Ryde-Eastwood now face the Melbourne Storm in the Round One of the 2010 NSW Cup Final Series on Sunday, September 12, at Leichhardt Oval.
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