Tigers Triumph in tough battle against last years Premiers.
Aug 31, 2009
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Match Report from our big win over Wentworthville.
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Leichhardt Oval transformed into a battle field on Saturday as the Balmain Tigers and Wentworthville Magpies traded harsh tackles, and not a few punches, with gritty intensity showing each other no mercy. But it was the Tigers who proved toughest stealing an 18 - 14 win to push them up on the ladder and in great opportunity to be in the top for before the finals.
If you haven't been following the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers this year, now is the time to get on board. Hosting 2 of the top 3 contenders for Player of the Year, David Gower and Jarred Farlow, the Tigers are going from strength to strength every week.
In the first half Wentworthville showed why they were 3rd on the ladder, using their superior size to bash the Tigers and put pressure on Tigers play makers giving them little options to convert tries. Taking 3 consecutive tries and holding the Tigers to zero the Magpies utilized good options and quick thinking in the first 35 minutes. The first 2 tries were carbon copies of each other as Wenty pushed to the middle on the Tigers line, then threw 2 quick passes to the winger who crossed with ease. Junior Paulo made the other tries look hard when he charged easily through the Tigers line from 5 metres out in the 33rd minute, 0 - 14.
The Tigers couldn't seem to complete sets, and when they did it was a weak finish. However just before half time Jarred Farlow, gave them a chance to get back in the game with a gutsy try under the posts when he charged through 2 defenders, 6 - 14.
Tigers Coach Paul Fletchers halftime speech "told the team to start completing sets and move the ball faster around the park and play more direct" and it was what they did. Although Wenty came out firing making massive gains, they weren't able to convert them to points like the Tigers.
Billy Callaway, who had an impressive game, didn't let his fresh head bandage slow him down scoring in the corner after he received a long pass then beat in the corner, 12 - 14 Wentworthville did look dangerous, getting to the Tigers line with almost every set, but they couldn't complete, as the Tigers were just too strong in their defence.
And after Brett Lane gave the Tigers the lead 18 - 14 with an unsuspected dive from dummy half, tensions started to rise. An old fashioned biff broke out between Sean Meaney and Etu Uaisele earning them both 10 in the bin, but this was superseded by Wenty Captain Justin Horo who dealt a low blow right in front of the Fox Sport cameras which he copped a send off for and was put on report.
But it all fed the excitement of the game as both sides were getting stuck into each other trying to claw their way to the win.
Special mention should go to David Gower of the Tigers who was definitely their powerhouse player.
See you all at Henson Park next Saturday at 3pm.
By Ryan Cunningham
Suzie-QModerator