Tigers defeat Knights 26-24 to book their place in NSW Cup Grand Final
Sunday 23 September 2012 12:40 PM
Tigers defeat Knights 26-24 to book their place in NSW Cup Grand Final
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Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers booked their place in next week’s VB NSW Cup Grand Final after a gripping 26-24 win over Newcastle Knights at Leichhardt Oval today.
They will now play the winner of the Newton Jets v Canterbury Bulldogs match, with the Grand Final to be played next Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
The Knights had the first attacking opportunity of the day when Tim Simona coughed the ball up on half way.
However the Tigers defence held firm and in the fifth minute, they scored the first points of the match when second rower Jarrod Farlow fell on a loose ball in the in goal area.
Nathan Waters’ well weighted kick was picked up by Kevin Naiqama but the Knights fullback spilled the ball in the tackle and Farlow grounded the ball for the try. Sean Meaney converted the try for a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers handed back the advantage in the 9th minute when Chris Adams spun out of a tackle from dummy half to score under the posts.
Tigers five eighth Tom Humble dropped the ball from the kick-off which gave their opponents great field position to launch their attacking raid.
Josh Mantellato converted the Adams try to level the scores at 6-6.
The Tigers were their own worst enemy at times as they forfeited possession when coming out of their end to give the Knights a lot of opportunities to hit the lead.
However some solid defence denied the Knights on a number of occasions.
In the 33rd minute centre Josh Davis snatched the lead back for the Tigers when he ran 85 metres after a Naiqama attacking kick was charged down.
Davis scooped it up 15 metres out from his line and beat several defenders on his way to score which included a last ditch effort from Adams who chased Davis all the way only to miss him just five metres out from the left corner post.
It was just what the Tigers needed but five minutes later the Knights made a crucial score when Alex Moore took advantage of an error from the Tigers.
Moore put a kick into the in goal area which wasn’t cleaned up and Moore touched down to give his side the momentum leading into the half time break. Naiqama’s kick hit the post so the Tigers kept a slender lead at 12-10.
The Knights hit the front almost immediately after the half time break when, in the 42nd minute, second rower Robbie Rochow ran onto a flat Moore pass to score the Knights’ third try of the afternoon.
Naiqama made no mistake with the conversion and the Knights lead for the first time 16-12.
That lead was extended seven minutes later when Masada Iosefa was penalised for not getting off the tackled player quickly enough.
Naiqama kicked the penalty goal from 25 metres out to take the lead to 18-12.
The Tigers needed a boost and they got it in the 55th minute when Meaney got the all important try to get the Tigers to within two points.
It came from a Tom Humble bomb which wasn’t dealt with by the Knights. Meaney fell on the loose ball for the try.
He conversion was successful which locked it up at 18 apiece.
The Tigers then took control of the next period of play with some good yards up the middle and some clever general play kicking.
The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when Meaney slotted a penalty goal from 25 metres out to take it to a 20-18 lead.
A Ray Cashmere bust up the middle just minutes later put the Tigers within striking distance again.
Simona ensured a repeat set through a deft grubber kick and Humble trapped Naiqama in goal.
Off the next set of six the Tigers capitalised via a Waters grubber kick which was dived on by David Harris.
Meaney converted the try to take the Tigers out to handy eight point lead (26-18) with just nine minutes left on the clock.
The Knights piled on the pressure and five minutes later they looked all but certain to hit back when Moore got over the line.
However some superb last ditch defence from Meaney and Waters denied Moore who was ruled to be held up.
Despite some excellent scrambling in defence, the Tigers couldn’t hold the Knights out any longer as Naiqama came back on the angle to score under the posts.
His kick was successful which made the score 26-24 with just 90 seconds remaining.
The dream finish for the Knights was not to be when they came up with the error coming out of their half from the kick-off.
The Tigers then held the ball for the remaining 45 seconds on the clock to ensure the hard fought win.
Full time
Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers 26 (Jarrod Farlow, Josh Davis, Sean Meaney and David Harris tries. Meaney 4/4 conversions and 1/1 penalty goal) def Newcastle Knights 24 (Chris Adams, Alex Moore, Robbie Rochow and Kevin Naiqama tries. Josh Mantellato 1/1, Naiqama 2/3 conversions, 1/1 penalty goal.)
Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers
1 Sean Meaney ©
2 Jake Clarke
3 Josh Davis
4 Tim Simona
5 Gus Agia
6 Tom Humble
7 Nathan Waters
8 Junior Moors
9 Masada Iosefa
10 Ray Cashmere
11 Jarrod Farlow
12 David Harris
13 Rhys Curren
Interchange
14 Ava Seumanufagai
15 Taqele Naiyaravaro
20 Pat Politoni
21 Dane Chisholm