**Tigers bounce back to beat Wolves**
Michelle Boon
30/05/2011 10:51:16 AM
The Australian Power & Gas Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers have bounced back from last week’s poor showing by recording a gritty 26-22 victory over the Windsor Wolves at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
Windsor got off to a cracking start with winger Ryan walker scoring in the left hand corner after 2 minutes of play after they created a 3-man overlap off an ineffective tackle & Walker showed a clean pair of heels to slide over. Second rower Joseph Paulo didn’t convert & they led 4-0.
The Tigers replied 6 minutes later when five eighth Rhys Jack scored under the posts after fullback Jake Mullaney broke through the defence on a kick return 10m out from his own line & after making 60m he linked up with Jack on the inside 30m out to give him a clear run to the tryline. Centre Sean Meaney converted to put the Tigers in front 6-4.
4 minutes later Tigers’ front rower Junior Moors crossed out wide after they made good metres upfield & attacked left where they are brought down just short of the line & on the next play Moors proved too strong & crashed over. Meaney’s conversion made the score 12-4.
5 minutes later Tigers’ winger Sam Latu scored in the left hand corner finishing off a good backline movement that swept across the left hand side of the field. Meaney didn’t convert & the score was 16-4.
With 9 minutes to go Wolves’ centre Shane Elford scored out wide slipping through a tackle & beating the cover defence from close range. Paulo converted to make the score 16-10 at half time.
The Wolves started the second half very well when halfback Harry Seijka crossed near the posts in the 7th minute after they took advantage of a penalty to get upfield early & the applied pressure through possession close to the line paid off. Paulo’s conversion levelled the scores at 16-all.
With 11 minutes to go Jack notched his double, crossing near the posts taking advantage of a quick play-the-ball to scamper through a huge hole behind the play-the-ball from 10m out & plunge over. Meaney’s conversion hit the upright but the Tigers were back in front 20-16.
5 minutes later Wolves’ fullback Coedi Towney scored out wide after he sliced through the left hand centres 20m out working a beautiful planned move & evaded the cover defence to score. Paulo converted & Windsor was now leading 22-20.
This set the scene for a thrilling finish & a scenario that has played out between these teams in their last few clashes.
With their last opportunity to score points the Tigers were camped in the Wolves’ 10m zone & on the last tackle of the set they threw the ball around to keep it alive, losing 30m in the process before quickly shifting it to the right where the Windsor defence was short & winger Faleula Finau broke through and made 30m before offloading to an unmarked Meaney to go the final few metres & touch down in the corner. He topped off an unbelievable passage of play by converting from the sideline to give the Tigers an incredible escape at full time, winning 26-22.
While the second half wasn’t the Tigers’ best this season, the victory has broken the “Windsor curse” & moved the Tigers back into the top 8.
Next week the Tigers embark on a local road trip, travelling up the freeway on Saturday 4 June to take on the Central Coast Centurions & after kicking the Windsor curse the team is looking to make it 2 wins in a row. Kickoff is at 3pm at Morrie Breen Oval. See you there!
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**MATCH FACTS**
Balmain Ryde-Eastwood 26 (Rhys Jack 2, Junior Moors, Sam Latu, Sean Meaney tries; Meaney 3 goals) d Windsor 22 (Ryan Walker, Shane Elford, Harry Seijka, Coedi Towney tries, Joseph Paulo 3 goals) at Leichhardt Oval.
