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JONES HAPPY WITH FIRST TRIAL EFFORT
By Wayne Cousins
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Wests Tigers U20s Coach Grant Jones walked away from Norford Oval on Friday, January 29, a pleased man.
Jones took a squad of more than 25 players for the first trial match of the season against the Bulldogs U20s squad.
“It was your typical first trial – drop balls, new players playing with each other,’’ Jones said.
“We were strong in patches. It was a pleasing trial first up and we came through it with no major injuries.”
In a trial in which both teams agreed to no goal kicks, the Bulldogs started the first 40 minutes strongly racing out to a two tries to nil lead. Wests Tigers opened their account when hooker Sam Stanford spread the ball left for winger Faleula Finau to score out wide.
Wests Tigers drew level at two tries each when lanky five-eighth Matthew Brasington ran acrossfield to hook up with right centre David Tautaiolefue who sent winger Dayne Craig over in the corner.
The Bulldogs then jumped a try ahead before Wests Tigers prop Isaac Lui pushed off a defender out wide to cross for three tries apiece. It came on the back of a strong run by second-rower Mason Talolua on the previous play.
Three more tries to the Bulldogs saw them end the first half six tries to three in front.
Jones then fielded his second team with several backs going around for the second 40 minutes.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring to get back to a 6-4 scoreline after Finau was pulled down just short of the line. A quick play the ball saw Daniel Ahsin push his way over from dummy half to score.
It got back to six tries to five when five-eighth Nathan O’Reagan pushed off an opponent to score.
Following a short drinks break, promising prop Marley Wight then pushed past three defenders to score out wide to level at six tries each.
Minutes later, hooker Ellery Wilson scored under the posts from 10 metres out for a seven tries to six lead to Wests Tigers.
The Bulldogs looked set to level again when they had numbers out wide only for centre Bodie Clarke to take an intercept and race 40 metres downfield.
Wests Tigers scored one final try after Pat Pollitoni scored from dummy half to give a final eight tries to six scoreline. Wests Tigers scored five tries to nil in the second half.
The next trial match for the Wests Tigers U20s team is against Campbelltown Eagles (Bundaberg Rum team) at Kirkham Park, Camden, on Saturday, February 13, at 4pm.
Wests Tigers will then play trials against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, February 21, at the SFS and Cronulla Sharks on Friday, February 26, at Concord Oval.
By Wayne Cousins
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Wests Tigers U20s Coach Grant Jones walked away from Norford Oval on Friday, January 29, a pleased man.
Jones took a squad of more than 25 players for the first trial match of the season against the Bulldogs U20s squad.
“It was your typical first trial – drop balls, new players playing with each other,’’ Jones said.
“We were strong in patches. It was a pleasing trial first up and we came through it with no major injuries.”
In a trial in which both teams agreed to no goal kicks, the Bulldogs started the first 40 minutes strongly racing out to a two tries to nil lead. Wests Tigers opened their account when hooker Sam Stanford spread the ball left for winger Faleula Finau to score out wide.
Wests Tigers drew level at two tries each when lanky five-eighth Matthew Brasington ran acrossfield to hook up with right centre David Tautaiolefue who sent winger Dayne Craig over in the corner.
The Bulldogs then jumped a try ahead before Wests Tigers prop Isaac Lui pushed off a defender out wide to cross for three tries apiece. It came on the back of a strong run by second-rower Mason Talolua on the previous play.
Three more tries to the Bulldogs saw them end the first half six tries to three in front.
Jones then fielded his second team with several backs going around for the second 40 minutes.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring to get back to a 6-4 scoreline after Finau was pulled down just short of the line. A quick play the ball saw Daniel Ahsin push his way over from dummy half to score.
It got back to six tries to five when five-eighth Nathan O’Reagan pushed off an opponent to score.
Following a short drinks break, promising prop Marley Wight then pushed past three defenders to score out wide to level at six tries each.
Minutes later, hooker Ellery Wilson scored under the posts from 10 metres out for a seven tries to six lead to Wests Tigers.
The Bulldogs looked set to level again when they had numbers out wide only for centre Bodie Clarke to take an intercept and race 40 metres downfield.
Wests Tigers scored one final try after Pat Pollitoni scored from dummy half to give a final eight tries to six scoreline. Wests Tigers scored five tries to nil in the second half.
The next trial match for the Wests Tigers U20s team is against Campbelltown Eagles (Bundaberg Rum team) at Kirkham Park, Camden, on Saturday, February 13, at 4pm.
Wests Tigers will then play trials against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, February 21, at the SFS and Cronulla Sharks on Friday, February 26, at Concord Oval.
