NYC: Wests Tigers beat Eels 26-16
By Wayne Cousins
Monday 6 August 2012 4:37 PM
NYC: Wests Tigers beat Eels 26-16
Wests Tigers recorded a 26-16 victory over Parramatta Eels at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tonight in round 21 of the NYC competition.
The win leaves Wests Tigers in fifth place, one point out of the top four.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the 10th minute when full-back Manaia Rudolph linked up with left centre Brodie Monroe to send winger Matt Evans over in the corner for a 4-0 lead. Rudolph's attempt from the sideline fell short in front of the posts.
A smart grubber kick by half-back Jacob Miller in the 16th minute saw winger Kurtis Rowe dive on the ball to score for an 8-0 lead. Rudolph converted the try from next to the posts for a 10-0 lead.
Rowe grabbed his second try in the 20th minute when he swooped on a grubber kick from five-eighth Connor Toia to score. Rudolph converted from the same spot as before for a 16-0 lead.
Two minutes later, a grubber kick from Miller saw the ball spilt by Parramatta full-back Corey Makelim for centre Brodie Monroe to lay a hand on the ball to score behind the posts. Rudolph failed to convert the try for a 20-0 lead to Wests Tigers.
Parramatta got on the board when second-rower Trent Jennings finished off a backline play to the right to slice through two defenders to score in the corner in the 29th minute. Five-eighth Mitchell Brasington failed to convert the try to leave the Eels trailing 20-4.
Wests Tigers bombed a certain try in the 32nd minute when Rudolph dropped the ball 20 metres from the tryline after an initial break by lock Brenden Santi.
Three minutes later, Wests Tigers were denied a second try to Evans when a pass from Miller was ruled forward by the referee. The score remained 20-4 at half-time.
2nd Half
Parramatta opened proceedings in the second half when lock Kaysa Pritchard dived over next to the posts from dummy half in the 63rd minute. Brasington converted the try to leave the Eels trailing 20-10.
Three minutes later, Brasington scored to leave the Eels trailing 20-14\. He converted his own try for a 20-16 scoreline.
A minute from full-time, Rudolph sealed victory for Wests Tigers when he ran into open space from a scrum win to score out wide. Rudolph converted his own try to give Wests Tigers a 26-16 victory.
Wests Tigers team
1 Manania Rudolph, 2 Matt Evans 3 Brodie Monroe, 4 Asipeli Fine, 5 Kurtis Rowe, 6 Connor Toia, 7 Jacob Milkler ©, 8 Sausao Sue, 9 Ben Saunders, 10 Mosese Fotuaika, 11 Shane Lalogafau, 12 Kyle Lovett 13 Brenden Santi; 14 Sitaleki Akoula, 15 Soni Paasi 16 Inno Inosesio, 17 James Luff
