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SOUTHS BEAT WESTS TIGERS 16-14 IN TOYOTA CUP
By Wayne Cousins, ANZ Stadium
7/08/2010 7:04:00 PM
Wests Tigers led for all but the final five minutes in going down 16-14 to South Sydney tonight at ANZ Stadium in round 22 of the Toyota Cup competition.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Wests Tigers who dominated and controlled the first half before a late second half comeback by the home side got them home.
Wests Tigers got off to a perfect start when lanky second-rower Shaun Spence ran on to a short pass from centre Jake Clarke to use his strength to crash over in the left corner inside the first minute.
Full-back Sama Sauvao failed to convert the try to leave Wests Tigers leading 4-0 after two minutes.
Wests Tigers were denied a try in the ninth minute when winger Monikura Tikinau was pushed over the sideline just before the corner post.
Opposite winger Faleula Finau showed some fancy footwork to plant the ball down in the corner for an 8-0 lead in the 19th minute. The try was not converted.
A good break by centre Limoni Kamuta down the middle of the field saw the ball spread right before Sauvao planted the ball down near the posts. He converted his own try for a 14-0 lead after 32 minutes.
Wests Tigers hooker Pat Politoni left the field in the 34th minute with a right arm injury.
Wests Tigers took a handy 14-0 lead into half-time after playing some attractive football in the first half to run in three tries.
2nd Half
Finau pulled off a trysaving tackle on runaway Souths full-back James Roberts, the nephew of former NRL player Amos Roberts, in the 47th minute just 20 metres from the Wests Tigers tryline.
South Sydney were penalised in the 53rd minute for passing the ball off the ground in a great trysaving tackle in front of the posts by hooker Dean Parata.
The Wests Tigers cover and scrambling defence was again superb in the 58th minute when prop Junior Roqica held up lock Blake Judd who looked destined to score under the posts.
The pressure finally told when Adrian Ha’angan dived over out wide to score a minute later. Half-back Adam Reynolds failed to convert the try for a 14-4 scoreline.
A crossfield kick near the posts by Reynolds saw the ball knocked back in-goal by a Souths player before Brendan McKinnon dived on the ball to score. Reynolds converted the try for a 14-10 scoreline.
South Sydney drew level for the first time when Ha’angan burrowed over for his second try. Reynolds converted the try to give Souths the lead for the first time at 16-14.
Wests Tigers had one last chance in Souths half inside the final minutes but it was to no avail with the Rabbitohs escaping with the two crucial competition points.
The loss leaves Wests Tigers on 24 points in ninth position.
By Wayne Cousins, ANZ Stadium
7/08/2010 7:04:00 PM
Wests Tigers led for all but the final five minutes in going down 16-14 to South Sydney tonight at ANZ Stadium in round 22 of the Toyota Cup competition.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Wests Tigers who dominated and controlled the first half before a late second half comeback by the home side got them home.
Wests Tigers got off to a perfect start when lanky second-rower Shaun Spence ran on to a short pass from centre Jake Clarke to use his strength to crash over in the left corner inside the first minute.
Full-back Sama Sauvao failed to convert the try to leave Wests Tigers leading 4-0 after two minutes.
Wests Tigers were denied a try in the ninth minute when winger Monikura Tikinau was pushed over the sideline just before the corner post.
Opposite winger Faleula Finau showed some fancy footwork to plant the ball down in the corner for an 8-0 lead in the 19th minute. The try was not converted.
A good break by centre Limoni Kamuta down the middle of the field saw the ball spread right before Sauvao planted the ball down near the posts. He converted his own try for a 14-0 lead after 32 minutes.
Wests Tigers hooker Pat Politoni left the field in the 34th minute with a right arm injury.
Wests Tigers took a handy 14-0 lead into half-time after playing some attractive football in the first half to run in three tries.
2nd Half
Finau pulled off a trysaving tackle on runaway Souths full-back James Roberts, the nephew of former NRL player Amos Roberts, in the 47th minute just 20 metres from the Wests Tigers tryline.
South Sydney were penalised in the 53rd minute for passing the ball off the ground in a great trysaving tackle in front of the posts by hooker Dean Parata.
The Wests Tigers cover and scrambling defence was again superb in the 58th minute when prop Junior Roqica held up lock Blake Judd who looked destined to score under the posts.
The pressure finally told when Adrian Ha’angan dived over out wide to score a minute later. Half-back Adam Reynolds failed to convert the try for a 14-4 scoreline.
A crossfield kick near the posts by Reynolds saw the ball knocked back in-goal by a Souths player before Brendan McKinnon dived on the ball to score. Reynolds converted the try for a 14-10 scoreline.
South Sydney drew level for the first time when Ha’angan burrowed over for his second try. Reynolds converted the try to give Souths the lead for the first time at 16-14.
Wests Tigers had one last chance in Souths half inside the final minutes but it was to no avail with the Rabbitohs escaping with the two crucial competition points.
The loss leaves Wests Tigers on 24 points in ninth position.
