NYC: Wests Tigers lose 36-30 to Rabbitohs
By Wayne Cousins
Sunday 29 July 2012 12:44 PM
NYC: Wests Tigers lose 36-30 to Rabbitohs
Wests Tigers let slip a strong first half lead to lose 36-30 to South Sydney at ANZ Stadium today in round 21 of the NYC competition.
In a match played in overcast conditions, Wests Tigers started the match strongly to lead 20-0 before the home side hit back strongly in the second half to take the two competition points.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the fourth minute when prop Sausao Sue brushed past three defenders to score under the posts. Full-back Manaia Rudolph converted from in front for a 6-0 lead.
Two minutes later, hooker Ben Saunders busted the defence open from a dummy half run to race 40 metres downfield to find support in Rudolph who despite being grabbed by two defenders popped a ball up for Sue to score his second try.
Rudolph converted the try for a 12-0 lead to Wests Tigers after 9 minutes.
Wests Tigers went to a 16-0 lead in the 15th minute when second-rower Joel Luani brushed off some soft defence out wide to score. Rudolph failed to convert the try.
Winger Matt Evans extended the Wests Tigers lead to 20-0 when he dived over in the left corner in the 22nd minute after the ball was shifted through several hands. Rudolph failed to convert the try.
The Rabbitohs opened their account in the 25th minute when half-back and captain Luke Keary split the defence to score behind the posts for a 20-4 scoreline. Five-eighth Dylan Walker converted the try to leave the Rabbitohs trailing 20-6.
South Sydney grabbed their second try in the 33rd minute when centre Jordan Tongahai dived over in the left corner. Walker converted the try for a 20-12 scoreline.
Wests Tigers winger Kurtis Rowe gave his side some breathing space when he crossed in the corner in the 38th minute for a 24-12 lead. Rudolph failed to convert the try to leave the score that way at half-time.
2nd Half
Three quick converted tries to South Sydney through Walker (53rd), Tongahai (57th) and Walker again (63rd minute) saw the Rabbitohs take a 30-24 lead after 65 minutes.
Walker extended the Rabbitohs lead to 32-24 through a penalty goal before Wests Tigers got back to 32-28 when centre Brodie Monroe crashed over out wide. Rudolph converted the try for a a 32-30 scoreline.
Souths secured victory when Keary scored in the corner in the 78th minute for a 36-30 scoreline.
The loss leaves the Todd Payten coached Wests Tigers on 28 points.
Wests Tigers team
1 Manaia Rudolph
19 Matt Evans
18 Brodie Monroe
4 Asipeli Fine
5 Kurtis Rowe
6 Connor Taia
7 Jacob Miller ©
8 Sausao Sue
9 Ben Saunders
10 Mosese Fotuaika
11 Joel Luani
12 Kyle Lovett
13 Brenden Santi
14 Shane Lalagafau
15 Soni Paasi
16 Inno Inosesio
17 Matt Mulcahy
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