In another match that has gone down to the wire Sydney Roosters defeat Wests Tigers 16-14 at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
MATCH DETAILS
The Tigers with a huge amount of possessionย on Sydney’s try line were unable to convert with the side eventually conceding to go up by 2 points. Just before the half, Cooper Cronk snapped a cross-field kick to his winger Daniel Tupou who through a Wests error was able to score having Roosters eventually lead 8-2. A try and more points to Roostersย had them go to 14-2 until the inclusion of Josh Reynolds, injecting himself setting up a try under the posts and scoring with 5 minutes left to have it go to 16-14. Goal line defence from the home side saw them come away with a big win without origin players 16-14.
FOUR POINTERS
ROOSTERS SURVIVE THRILLER
The last play thriller in their first outing went to the Tigers to winย by just two and it wasย the sameย result once again, however, a depleted Roosters side coming away triumphant. Aย penalty and error-riddledย clash with both sidesย forwards bashing each other for saw four tries all up. Theย fixture lookedย over until Wests closed the gapย with only two points in it and 5 minutes left.ย Theย scramblingย defence saw Sydney able to hold out multiple four-point opportunities and a lateย finish by the visitors until the final whistle to survive 16-14.
KICK PRESSURE
This match contained a ridiculous amount of kick pressure inside each team 10-metre line as well as in the middle third of the field. Many of the kicks were from grubbers with a total of 17 many resulting in the huge count of 9 forced dropouts. The Tigers with the majorityย of the kicks and kicking metres were unable to capitalise early in the match having Roosters goal line defence withstanding the onslaught.
TUPOU TRIES AND SAVER
Daniel Tupou returning after a long time not playing has helped his side in the first origin round to remain in the top 8. Having been out for 10 rounds Tupou had many runs through the middle of the field for 123 run metres and a two-try haul aiding in his tremendous scoring record against the Wests side over the years. One of the best try saves of the season on Corey Thompson was what really stood out, in the 78th minute with a mirror image of round one’s ending Tupou this time wrapped up the Tigers winger centimetres from the grass taking him out in touch to help prevent the comeback again.
KEY TIGER INJURED
It was a troublingย injury for the Tigers to bare with one of their best backs in David Nofoaluma limping off in the 33rd minute. The winger had already made a great impact with 75 run and 22 post contact metres, but Nofoaluma succumbed to a calf strain injury just before the half. David was unable to return for the duration of the match and could be out for some time to come.
THE RESULT
Roosters 16
Tries:ย Tupou (2)
Goals:ย Ferguson 2/2, Taukeiaho 2/3
Tigers 14
Tries:ย Grant, Reynolds
Goals:ย Marsters 3/3
SQUADS
Roosters:ย 1 Blake Ferguson, 2ย Daniel Tupou, 3 Joseph Manu, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Matthew Ikuvalu, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Victor Radley,ย 17 Nat Butcher, 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange:ย 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Frank-Paul Nuuausala, 17 Kurt Baptiste,ย 19 Lindsay Collins
Wests Tigers:ย 1 Tuimoala Lolohea, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Mahe Fonua, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Elijah Taylor, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence (c), 12 Michael Chee-Kam, 17 Tim Grant
Interchange:ย 14 Alex Twal, 15 Josh Reynolds, 16 Josh Aloai,ย 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
