ROOSTERS BEAT WESTS TIGERS 30-10 IN U20s
By Wayne Cousins
23/07/2011 3:18:29 PM
Wests Tigers turned in a very disappointing performance in losing 30-10 to Sydney Roosters at Campbelltown Sports Stadium today in the U20s competition.
The match was played in perfect weather conditions in front of a small crowd with the playing surface in superb order after the game was shifted from a wet Leichhardt Oval.
The loss leaves Wests Tigers in sixth place on 24 points. The win moved the Roosters to seventh place on 23 points.
Wests Tigers lost winger Marika Koroibete, prop Neil Begovich and lock Jesse Sue before the game through injury.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the fifth minute when centre David Nofoaluma scored in the right corner after good work by full-back James Tedesco. Half-back Jacob Miller failed to convert from the sideline for a 4-0 lead.
Centre Tim Simona bombed a certain try in the 10th minute after he dropped the ball over the line in trying to score. Winger Faleula Finau was unmarked on his outside and would have scored for sure. The play came after good work by Miller and five-eighth Curtis Sironen.
The Roosters drew level in the 17th minute when winger Usaia O'Sullivan dived over in the right corner after the ball. Winger Chris Taripo failed to convert the try.
Four minutes later,the Roosters went to an 8-4 lead when centre Tautau Moga dived over in the left corner. Taripo failed to convert from the sideline.
A grubber kick on the last tackle by Roosters half-back Ryley Jacks saw the ball hit the posts to allow him to dive on to score, leaving Tedesco no hope. Taripo converted for a 14-4 lead after 34 minutes.
The Roosters were denied a try a minute later to Brandon Tago after the referee ruled a forward pass from dummy half.
The visitors were not to be denied a minute later when second-rower Ethan Lowe ran through the attempted tackle of Sironen to score in the 39th minute. Taripo failed to convert the try to give the Roosters an 18-4 lead at half-time.
2nd Half
The Roosters stretched their lead to 22-4 in the 52nd minute when Jacks put up a crossfield kick for centre Curtis Rona to leap high to score. Taripo converted the try for a 24-4 lead after 54 minutes.
A Miller bomb was allowed to bounce in the 59th minute by the Roosters, resulting in Tedesco picking it up to score under the posts. Sironen converted the try to leave Wests Tigers trailing 24-10.
Nofoaluma looked set to score in the 70th minute but lost the ball in a three man tackle in trying to ground it over the line.
Sironen was placed on report in the 72nd minute for using an elbow.
Wests Tigers had a tryscoring opportunity in the 74th minute but Simona went to ground for the second time with the ball with a try on.
A crossfield kick by the Roosters saw Nofoaluma drop the ball in-goal for Lowe to score his second try. Taripo converted the try for a 30-10 scoreline after 77 minutes.
Wests Tigers team
1 James Tedesco
20 Faleula Finau
3 Tim Simona
4 David Nofoaluma
5 Limoni Kamuta
6 Curtis Sironen
7 Jacob Miller
11 Shaun Spence
16 Ben Saunders
10 Matt Groat
17 Kyle Lovett
12 Mason Talolua
9 Joel Luani
Interchange
14 Mosese Fotuaika
15 Sebastian Vourlos
18 Junior Roqica
19 Pat Politoni
