Desperate Tigers crunch out win

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A passionate crowd of 7,125 has braved terrible conditions to see the Wests Tigers score their first win in 8 weeks with a 22-20 win over the North Qld Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.

The game started with an unexpected move by Cowboys coach Neil Henry with James Tamou being dropped back to the bench with Scott Bolton starting in jersey 17, the move looked to be a good one early with Bolton setting up a Tariq Sims try as well as looking strong early on.

Just five minutes later the Tigers hit back with Benji Marshall scoring a controversial try with replays suggesting that referee Jason Robinson was right in calling a no try although the Video Referees decided otherwise and awarded Benji Marshall the try.

The wet weather played havoc with the ball handling and passing for both the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys.

The first half was a typical wet weather arm-wrestle with both sides trying to play smart wet weather football which was stopped by some strong defence from both sides.

First half also saw its fair share of Video Referee calls with four referrals by referees Jason Robinson and Gavin Morris with several controversial calls sure to be talked about in the week ahead.
The first half saw tries to Benji Marshall and Marika Koroibete for the Wests Tigers whilst Tariq Sims and Kane Linnett scored tries for the Cowboys.

The Tigers went to the half time break ahead by two points and capitalised on this lead and extended the lead through Jack Buchanan soon after the half time break.

As the rain continued to become heavier the Cowboys managed to clean up an error by David Nofoaluma to give the Cowboys a try and bring the lead back to four points. The lead soon changed again as the Cowboys crossed the line through Antonio Winterstein to take a two point lead which the Cowboys held until the 78th minute.

At that point Wests Tigers winger David Nofaluma crossed in the corner at what looked to be the match winning try and after several replays from the Video Referees they agreed with the on-field call from Jason Robinson and awarded the try.

There were a couple of talking points from the match such as the improved performances from Benji Marshall and Adam Blair, as well as several controversial decisions from video referees Chris Ward and Luke Patten.

Wests Tigers will be happy with their win this weekend as they have the bye next weekend before taking on the inform Penrith Panthers at Centrebet Stadium in Round 13. The Cowboys aren’t so lucky - they have to take on the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park on Sunday week.


Match Details
Wests Tigers 22 North Queensland Cowboys 20
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Crowd: 7125
Halftime Score: Wests Tigers 12-10

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - David Nofoaluma
2 points - Benji Marshall
1 point - Matthew Bowen

WESTS TIGERS (22)
Tries: Benji Marshall, Marika Koroibete, Jack Buchanan, David Nofoaluma
Conversions: Benji Marshall (3/4)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (20)
Tries: Tariq Sims (2), Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (2/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Just over 30 minutes away from Kick off at Leichhardt Oval, weather at the ground not the best with heavy rain currently falling at the ground
TEAM CHANGES: Both sides 1-17 for the clash tonight although Scott Bolton will start the game for the Cowboys in jersey 17 with James Tamou coming from the bench in an unexpected move
1 min: Play underway and the Cowboys get an early penalty and then six again for a chargedown by the tigers on the ensuing set
2 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Looking at a possible Tariq Sims - Referee Gavin Morris has said he thinks its a try
4 min: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Tariq Sims. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
TRY - Tariq Sims - charges down the Benji Marshall kick and scores on the regather, Jonathan Thurston with an unusually poor attempt at goal
North Queensland Cowboys 4-0
6 min: Might only be a small crowd at Leichhardt Oval tonight but appear to be very vocal
8 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking a possible Benji Marshall try - Referee Jason Robinson has said no try
9 min: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Benji Marshall. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful.
Benji Marshall gets the green lights for a controversial try that was originally called a no try by the referee - looks like it could be a massive change of luck for the Tigers
Wests Tigers 6-4
10 min: PENALTY - Tigers get a lucky penalty after the referee missed an obvious one
12 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Aaron Woods makes an unforced error.
Tigers were looking good after the try but can't capitalise with an error from Aaron Woods 30m out from the Cowboys line
12 min: PENALTY - Liam Fulton penalised for a high tackle on Matt Scott - Cowboys on the attack close to the tigers line
13 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Looking at a possible Ashley Graham try - Gavin Morris says try - will be amazing if it is given
13 min: NO TRY - Video Referees give another controversial call here at Leichhardt Oval - Tigers penalised for a shoulder charge that looked to be very soft
15 min: A missed pass saves the Wests Tigers as Ashley Graham fumbles the ball in the corner
17 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Adam Blair makes an unforced error.
Adam Blair puts the ball down on the third tackle inside the Cowboys half
19 min: Braith Anasta showing some ill-discipline for a tackle around the neck relieving pressure on the Cowboys and inturn putting it on the Tigers
23 min: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Smart play by Matt Bowen putting a grubber through to the ingoal and put down beautifully by Kane Linnett, no problems from Johnathan Thurston converting
North Queensland Cowboys 10-6
24 min: Ashley Graham gives the ball to the touch judge, giving the tigers a scrum around 45m out from the Cowboys line
25 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Eddy Pettybourne makes an unforced error.
Eddy Pettybourne puts a Benji Marshall pass down and the ball goes of the 20m restart and again Tigers take the pressure of the Cowboys
26 min: Gavin Cooper looks to have a big issue, being helped back to the benches by the Nth Qld Trainers
28 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Eddy Pettybourne makes an unforced error.
Eddy Pettybourne makes another error close to the Cowboys line relieving the pressure
30 min: Some injury concerns for both sides - Darren Lockyer on Ch9 reporting that Liam Fulton has a hamstring injury and is unlikely to return whilst Gavin Cooper his having his ankle treated on the sideline
31 min: Aaron Woods with a try saving play stripping Matt Bowen
34 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Checking a possible Marika Koroibete try, checking grounding/possible double movement, Gavin Morris has said that we have a try
35 min: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Marika Koroibete. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful.
Marika Koroibete gets the green lights after a smart play initially from Curtis Sironen, Benji Marshall with some goal kicking brilliance from the sideline
Wests Tigers 12-10
36 min: Rain absolutely pouring down again at Leichhardt Oval, Benji Marshall showing some smart play by putting the ball over the touch line
40 min: HALF TIME at Leichhardt Oval and the Wests Tigers have a rare half time lead up by 12-10 over the North Queensland Cowboys
40 min: Wests Tigers hold a 2 point lead at the Half Time break in a match that has seen its fair share of errors, Conditions haven't been friendly to expansive football but both sides have tried.
A few video referee decisions will come under scrutiny with decisions being controversial
40 min: Teams back on the field for the second half, Tigers looking to grow their 2 point lead
41 min: Jonathan Thurston shows all his skills with a good kick, chase & gets the repeat set for the Nth Qld Cowboys
43 min: James Tedesco with an amazing piece of cover defence stopping what looked to be an almost certain Antonio Winterstein try, Tigers look the better side
45 min: VIDEO REFEREE: Checking a possible Jack Buchanan try
46 min: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Jack Buchanan. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful.
Smart play by Robbie Farah leads to a Jack Buchanan try, Benji Marshall puts the conversion over
Wests Tigers 18-10
48 min: Rain looks to be the strongest its been all day at Leichhardt Oval with it looking to be torrential
50 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Checking for a possible Tariq Sims try,
50 min: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Tariq Sims. Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Tariq Sims cleans up the ball after David Nofoaluma can't clean up the Thurston kick, conversion missed from out wide
Wests Tigers 18-14
52 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
James Tedesco makes an unforced error.
James Tedesco drops a Robbie Farah offload that looked like it didn't need to be passed
54 min: James Tedesco with some excellent clean up skills after an average but difficult kick from Thurston
55 min: PENALTY - Tigers get a Penalty with Tariq Sims penalised for a high tackle
57 min: Matt Bowen with some good skill to guess where Robbie Farah was going to put the kick into the ingoal
57 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Robbie Farah makes an unforced error.
Robbie Farah makes a poor error at the play the ball to put the pressure back on the Tigers
60 min:
Antonio Winterstein puts on a good step to get around Benji Marshall and carries his opposing winger over the tryline to score, Johnathan Thurston with an excellent conversion from the sideline
North Queensland Cowboys 20-18
62 min: Momentum looks to be swinging to the Cowboys although Johnathan Thurston puts a poor kick in and gives the Tigers free passage back to the 20m
63 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Checking a possible Ashley Graham try - Referee Jason Robinson has said NO TRY
63 min: NO TRY called by the Video Referees, Cowboys get a repeat set through a dropout
64 min: PENALTY - Cowboys get a penalty 10m out infront after the dropout goes out on the full
65 min: VIDEO REFEREE - We have another Video Referee - Jason Robinson has said NO TRY
65 min: NO TRY from the Video Referees and again Koroibete is penalised for a shoulder charge which again looks to be harsh
66 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Again we are off to the video referee this time looking at a possible Kane Linnett try
66 min: NO TRY - Video Referees rule that Kane Linnett bounced the grounding, Tigers come away from their own end
69 min: UNFORCED ERROR WESTS TIGERS
Braith Anasta makes an unforced error.
Braith Anasta loses the ball just centimetres from the cowboys line
72 min: PENALTY - Tigers get a penalty on their own goal line after Glen Hall tackled James Tedesco high
76 min: Tigers on the attack just metres and then let the pressure off with another poor pass from Braith Anasta
77 min: GRANDSTAND FINISH coming up at Leichhardt Oval, Tigers on the attack with Aaron Woods held up on tackle 2 in goal
78 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Checking a possible match winning try for David Nofoaluma - Jason Robinson has said TRY
79 min: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by David Nofoaluma. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful.
TRY - David Nofoaluma scores what looks to be the match winning try with some amazing skill - Benji Marshall unsuccessful from the sideline
Wests Tigers 22-20
80 min: WESTS TIGERS WIN - No typo there, First time in 8 weeks the Tigers get a win, 22-20 over the North Queensland Cowboys in an extremely entertaining match
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