Tigers edge out gallant Knights

v BYE

Wests Tigers did just enough to overcome the Newcastle Knights 20-12 in front of 8,658 fans at Campbelltown Stadium. 

Coming off a flogging last week - the Knights had the worst possible start as the Tigers drove straight down field and almost scored. The home dominated the opening ten minutes and finally profited when Mitchell Moses sliced through for a 6-nil lead. 

The Knights held tough though, and after 211 minutes of scoreless football, they finally broke through. Some straight forward plays gave them space for Jeremy Smith to pop up an offload for Trent Hodkinson to reduce the deficit to two. 

Tigers kept pushing their lead further with three penalty goals throughout the first half to make it 10-6 at the break. They were led ably by Aaron Woods who played almost 30 minutes unchanged in his second game back from injury. 

Like buses, once the Knights got their first the second followed. Daniel Saifiti started their go forward and fullback Dane Gagai surprised himself with the space down the left and strolled across to give Newcastle the lead after 50 minutes. 

Wests lifted in the final 20 though and finally put away a stubborn Knights team. Josh Addo-Carr was on the end of a nice backline movement to wrest the lead back for the home side. Luke Brooks sealed the game in the 68th minute when he spied a gap, and took an Elijah Taylor pass to give us the full-time scoreline of 20-12. 

Next week the Tigers face a tough test on Friday night in Brisbane, while the Knights are at home to the Parramatta Eels on the Monday before Origin.