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WESTS TIGERS BEAT COWBOYS 38-18 IN NRL
By Wayne Cousins
16/07/2011 10:07:40 PM

MATCH REPORT BROUGHT TO YOU BY BPS AUTOBODY (BANKSTOWN AND NARELLAN)

Wests Tigers bounced back to form tonight with a 38-18 victory over Nth Qld Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville, in round 19 of the Telstra Premiership.

The win in wet conditions ended a three game losing streak and moves Wests Tigers to 20 competition points.

Wests Tigers Prop Aaron Woods started the game in the second row with U20s prop Matt Groat taking his place in just his second NRL game off the interchange bench.

The Cowboys lost prop Matthew Scott before the game with a back injury.

Wests Tigers enjoyed tremendous attacking chances in the opening six minutes inside the Cowboys quarter through back to back sets.

The hard work paid off when a grubber kick on the last tackle by dummy half Robbie Farah saw the ball deflect off a Cowboys player for second-rower Gareth Ellis to scoop the ball up to score for a 4-0 lead.

Five-eighth Benji Marshall converted the try for a 6-0 lead after 9 minutes

Marshall and Robert Lui combined well in the opening 20 minutes with some clever play and smart kicking game.

The constant pressure built by Wests Tigers resulted in a try to centre Blake Ayshford in the 21st minute when quick hands by Lui and full-back Tim Moltzen saw the centre dive over out wide. Marshall converted try for a 12-0 lead after 23 minutes.

The Cowboys opened their account in the 36th minute when a crossfield bomb by Matthew Bowen saw forward Corey Paterson catch it to use his strength to plant the ball down out wide. Bowen failed to convert from the sideline to leave Wests Tigers leading 12-4.
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2nd Half

A poor play on the fifth tackle by Wests Tigers saw Willie Tonga intercept a pass from Liam Fulton on half-way to race away to score. Bowen converted to leave the Cowboys trailing 12-10 after 42 minutes.

Marshall gave Wests Tigers a 16-10 lead when he received a pass from dummy half to step past two defenders from five metres out to score out wide. Marshall converted his own try for an 18-10 lead after 49 minutes.

A nice inside ball by Marshall saw full-back Tim Moltzen in open space before he threw a dummy at the full-back to race behind the pots to score a 55 metre try.

Marshall converted the try for a 24-10 lead after 54 minutes.

Tonga scored his second try in the 59th minute when he finished off some individual brilliance from Bowen after he regathered his own chip kick to find open space to send the centre over. Bowen failed to convert his own try to leave Wests Tigers leading 24-14 after 61 minutes.

Marshall converted a penalty goal from next to the posts in the 68th minute for a 26-14 lead after the Cowboys penalised for forward pass.

A clearing kick downfield by Marshall saw the ball bounce back inside for Ayshford to pick it up. The centre then stepped and weaved his way through a gap to score behind the posts. Marshall converted the try for a 32-14 lead after 71 minutes.

Paterson then scored his second try in the 74th minute when he ran onto a short ball to beat Ayshford's tackle to dive over out wide. Bowen failed to convert the try to leave Wests Tigers with a 32-18 lead.

Wests Tigers completed the tryscoring when Farah drifted acrossfield to put Liam Fulton into a gap for the forward to race 20 metres to score. Marshall converted the try for the 38-18 scoreline.

 

[Guest]

Tigers end losing run vs Cowboys

Liam Butterworth AAP Sat, Jul 16, 2011 - 9:38 PM

Wests Tigers snapped a three-match NRL losing streak with a comprehensive 38-18 win over North Queensland on Saturday night in Townsville.

The Tigers created more attacking chances than the Cowboys, who struggled in the absence of injured co-captains Johnathan Thurston (knee) and Matt Scott (back) to slump to their second home loss of the season.

The Sydneysiders had the chance to move back into the top-eight with a victory and they opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Gareth Ellis pounced on a Robbie Farah grubber.

They doubled their lead after 23 minutes when Blake Ayshford was put into a gap by Tim Moltzen.

The Cowboys hit back four minutes before halftime through Cory Paterson, and were first to score in the second half when centre Willie Tonga intercepted a Liam Fulton pass and ran 40 metres in the 42nd minute.

The Tigers extended their lead just six minutes later when Benji Marshall showed some fancy footwork to skip past two Cowboys' defenders.

Tim Moltzen gave West Tigers a 14-point lead after 53 minutes when he ran 50 metres after collecting a Robbie Farah flick pass.

Cowboys' fullback Matt Bowen assumed most of the playmaking duties on the night and he collected his own clever chip before running 40 metres to put Tonga through for his second try of the night after 61 minutes.

Ayshford crossed for his second try with seven minutes remaining, benefiting from a favourable bounce from a Marshall bomb.

Paterson then added his second try after being put into a gap by halfback Matthew Morgan.

Liam Fulton ended the Tigers rout, crossing in the 79th minute when he was put into space by Farah.

 

[Guest]

Tigers bounce back in Townsville

Updated July 16, 2011 22:32:50
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Wests Tigers snapped a three-match NRL losing streak with a comprehensive 38-18 win over North Queensland on Saturday night in Townsville.

The Tigers created more attacking chances than the Cowboys, who struggled in the absence of injured co-captains Johnathan Thurston (knee) and Matt Scott (back) to slump to their second home loss of the season.

The Sydneysiders had the chance to move back into the top-eight with a victory and they opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Gareth Ellis pounced on a Robbie Farah grubber.

They doubled their lead after 23 minutes when Blake Ayshford was put into a gap by Tim Moltzen.

The Cowboys hit back four minutes before half time through Cory Paterson and were first to score in the second half when centre Willie Tonga intercepted a Liam Fulton pass and ran 40 metres in the 42nd minute.

The Tigers extended their lead just six minutes later when Benji Marshall showed some fancy footwork to skip past two Cowboys' defenders.

Tim Moltzen gave West Tigers a 14-point lead after 53 minutes when he ran 50 metres after collecting a Robbie Farah flick pass.

Cowboys' full-back Matt Bowen assumed most of the playmaking duties on the night and he collected his own clever chip before running 40 metres to put Tonga through for his second try of the night after 61 minutes.

Ayshford crossed for his second try with seven minutes remaining, benefiting from a favourable bounce from a Marshall bomb.

Paterson then added his second try after being put into a gap by half-back Matthew Morgan.

Liam Fulton ended the Tigers rout, crossing in the 79th minute when he was put into space by Farah.

On a positive note for the Cowboys, Brent Tate enjoyed a successful return from yet another shattering injury.

"I'm pretty sore after that one," he told Grandstand.

"I'm really glad to get that out of the way, I've had a pretty nerve-wracking week."

 

[Guest]

NRL Tigers end losing run vs Cowboys
Liam Butterworth
July 16, 2011 - 10:34PM

AAP

Wests Tigers snapped a three-match NRL losing streak with a comprehensive 38-18 win over North Queensland on Saturday night in Townsville.

The Tigers created more attacking chances than the Cowboys, who struggled in the absence of injured co-captains Johnathan Thurston (knee) and Matt Scott (back) to slump to their second home loss of the season.

The Sydneysiders had the chance to move back into the top-eight with a victory and they opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Gareth Ellis pounced on a Robbie Farah grubber.

They doubled their lead after 23 minutes when Blake Ayshford was put into a gap by Tim Moltzen.

The Cowboys hit back four minutes before halftime through Cory Paterson, and were first to score in the second half when centre Willie Tonga intercepted a Liam Fulton pass and ran 40 metres in the 42nd minute.

The Tigers extended their lead just six minutes later when Benji Marshall showed some fancy footwork to skip past two Cowboys' defenders.

Tim Moltzen gave West Tigers a 14-point lead after 53 minutes when he ran 50 metres after collecting a Robbie Farah flick pass.

Cowboys' fullback Matt Bowen assumed most of the playmaking duties on the night and he collected his own clever chip before running 40 metres to put Tonga through for his second try of the night after 61 minutes.

Ayshford crossed for his second try with seven minutes remaining, benefiting from a favourable bounce from a Marshall bomb.

Paterson then added his second try after being put into a gap by halfback Matthew Morgan.

Liam Fulton ended the Tigers rout, crossing in the 79th minute when he was put into space by Farah.

Tigers' coach Tim Sheens was pleased his side could break their losing streak while still missing key players.

"Considering the conditions, I think we played pretty well," Sheens said.

"We played with a lot more composure, we kicked better and we could've done a little bit better but we got some repeat sets and built some pressure and taught ourselves a lesson tonight, hopefully."

Captain Robbie Farah said the side had finally managed to put their hard work in training out onto the field.

"Our performances haven't been great but we've been training well and our preparation was, again great, this week and it was pleasing that we got things right and finished off the opportunities we got tonight," he said.

Cowboys' coach Neil Henry said his side had been on the wrong end of a hiding and the scoreline reflected a lack of attacking opportunities.

"We can use it as a bit of motivation to say it's a bit of a hollow feeling. We've had a good track record here over the last few weeks and to come back home after a good win last week and to turn up and play like that (is disappointing)," Henry said.

"(It was a) difficult night for us. We'll reflect on it but not for too long and there's not too many positives to look back on."

© 2011 AAP

 

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[Guest]

Testy Tigers finally open the floodgates
Steve Mascord
July 17, 2011

COACH Tim Sheens admitted after Wests Tigers snapped a three-match losing streak that ''issues within the team with people coming and going'' had played a role in the joint venture's recent poor form.

Sheens's side only just failed to reclaim a top-eight place last night at the end of a period which has seen the courting of New Zealand vice-captain Adam Blair prompt a mini-exodus, with fans and media blaming dissension for a mid-season slump.

Sheens became involved in an exchange with a journalist following the loss to Parramatta when asked about the links between the issues and results - but after a 38-18 belting of Matt Bowen-inspired North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium last night, he conceded: ''There's a myriad of things.

''Injury, obviously some issues within the team with people coming and going and also the way we played the football. There's a whole host of things. It's just a mid-season issue. It's not over. We've won a game. We lost our last three.''

Asked to clarify what he meant by people coming and going, he said: ''In every issue - in and out of the side because of injury and …

''I don't want to continue to keep talking about those issues. You just can't pick up a paper without it. At the end of the day, we're focused within the group on winning games. Everyone's happy about it.

''There's no issues between Robbie and Benji [Marshall], as was in the paper today - again. There's no issues between Benji and I - again. And so on, so it goes.''

Asked once more to explain his comment about departures and arrivals, Sheens said: ''We've had issues with injuries, we've had last-minute people pull out. We were maybe going to play Lote [Tuqiri], we had Toddy [Payten] pull out at the last minute tonight.

''We've been defending well, even over the month. We haven't been giving up 30-point, 40-point scores. You don't do that unless there's spirit in your place. That's where it shows - when things aren't going well, you can spot it in your game and that's where.''

For all their disappointing recent results, Wests Tigers are back in the eight after last night's other result. The side opened up a 12-0 lead in wet, slippery conditions by the 23rd minute then held on for dear life as Bowen produced a special performance in the absence of injured Cowboys co-captains Johnathan Thurston (knee) and Matt Scott (back).

Working as a television commentator, halfback Thurston described the try that Bowen set up for centre Willie Tonga in the 61st minute as ''astounding''.

Bowen kicked ahead near halfway, regathered thanks to an evil bounce, then put Tonga away for his second try. Brent Tate also had a determined return from a knee injury but it was not enough to prevent what Cowboys coach Neil Henry called a ''a bit of a hiding''.

It left the Cowboys - who had won seven consecutive games at home - outside the top four.

Second-rower Chris Heighington said Wests Tigers were so carefree with the ball, they played in wet weather the way the rest of the NRL played in the dry. ''I think the wet weather suits us,'' he said. ''We changed the game plan a bit.''