WESTS TIGERS BEAT DRAGONS 28-10 IN NYC
By Wayne Cousins
16/03/2012 6:48:24 PM
Wests Tigers recorded a hard fought 28-10 win over St George-Illawarra Dragons at WIN Jubilee Oval tonight in round 2 of the NYC competition.
In a game played in very warm conditions, the scores were locked at 6-all at half-time before Wests Tigers pulled away midway through the second half to record their second victory of the season.
The opening 10 minutes saw both sides feel their way into a game being played in warm conditions.
The arm wrestle continued for the next 10 minutes with the only clear break coming through a 60 metre break by Wests Tigers centre Michael Kai who was pulled down short of the line.
The Dragons opened the scoring in the 29th minute when full-back Evander Cummins evaded a few defenders to score near the posts. Lock Daniel Burke converted the try for a 6-0 lead to the Dragons.
Wests Tigers hooker Ben Saunders scored a vital try in the 39th minute when he dummied from dummy half to crash over near the posts. Five-eighth Manaia Rudolph converted the try for a 6-all scoreline at half-time.
2nd Half
The second half got off to a disappointing start for Wests Tigers when they allowed a bomb to bounce for winger Yaw Kiti Glymin to dive over in the corner for a 10-6 lead after 42 minutes. The try was not converted.
A break downfield by winger David Nofoaluma saw him tackled 10 metres short of the Dragons trylinbe with centre Matt Evans in support unmarked. A quick play the ball saw Rudolph step back inside before using his strength to score next to the posts.
Rudolph then missed the conversion attempt to leave the score at 10-all after 48 minutes.
A nice cut out pass by half-back Jacob Miller put second-rower Joel Luani over for a try in the 55th minute to give Wests Tigers a 14-10 lead. Rudolph missed the conversion attempt.
Wests Tigers went to an 18-10 lead in the 60th minute when Nofoaluma leapt high to defuse a Rudolph bomb to score in the corner. Rudolph failed to convert the try.
Saunders extended Wests Tigers lead with his second try which was converted by Rudolph to give the visitors a 24-10 lead after 72 minutes.
Four minutes later, Kai got his well deserved try when he raced 50 metres and pushed off a defender twice to score in the left corner for a 28-10 lead. Rudolph failed to convert the try.
Wests Tigers team
1 Kurtis Rowe
2 Bradley Soe
3 Michael Kai
4 Matt Evans
5 David Nofoaluma
6 Manaia Rudolph
7 Jacob Miller
8 Nathan Brown
9 Ben Saunders
10 Mosese Fotuaika
11 Joel Luani
12 Brodie Monroe
13 Brendan Santi
14 Sitaleki Akaoula
16 Kyle Lovett
17 Jordan Marshall-King
18 Andy Fiagatusa