Down to the wire at Suncorp

Petero Civoniceva made his debut as captain tonight in a Broncos side severely depleted by injuries against the Wests Tigers and lead his troops from the front to keep his side well in the hunt for the Minor Premiers title, winning at Suncorp Stadium by 24-20.

The Wests Tigers side had everything to play for, a spot in the Top 8 high in the minds of the players. The game was played a a very fast pace right throuout the match, right up to the final whistle.

The Tigers looked hungry and spread the Broncos defence wide apart on many ocassions. With the narrow lead of just 10-8 at halftime, the Tigers started off the second half with a try, just like they did in the first half. Their defence was holding very well, stopping the Broncos from gaining the lead many times.

The final 20 minutes of the match and the Broncos stepped up with 3 tries which helped to seal the match. The Tigers missed out on a try in the last minute of the match which could've seen the outcome of the match take a different path. A tough call for the video ref, the call not going the Tigers way and the Broncos come away with an extremely hard fought win, both sides able to take a lot of positives from the match.

Suncorp Stadium Referee: Paul Simpkins Scorers: BRONCOS 24 Tries: Kelly, Ikin. Civoniceva, McGuire Goals: Parker 3/5 defeated WESTS TIGERS 20 Tries: Richards 2, Buettner, Senter Goals: Hodgson 2/4

By the clock: Another top crowd at Suncorp Stadium for the match. A lot of Broncos players out injured.

0 min: Kick off!

5th min: TRY - Richards (Tigers) Back to back penalties for the Tigers close to their line. Prince puts up the high bomb to the wing and Richards pops up to collect the ball easily and scores. Hodgson from the touchline hooks the ball to the left of the posts. Tigers 4-0

7th min: TRY - Kelly (Broncos) The Broncos hit back quickly. McGuire puts through a kick on the 5th tackles as the Broncos attack. Richards looks to have it covered but Kelly nabs the catch on the 10 metre line and runs to score. Parker kicking tonight takes an age to set his kick, which misses. 4 all

9th min: NEWS - Webb (Broncos) held up over the line on the 3rd tackle. The Tigers defence holds for the remaining tackles as the Broncos spread the ball wide

15th min: NEWS - The game being played at a fanatic pace with both sides making the metres with the ball in hand. Still locked up at 4-4

20th min: NEWS - Costigan (Broncos) intercepts the ball on the 10 metre mark and looks certain to score but is tackled close to the try line

30th min: PENALTY GOAL - Broncos Moodie caught for being offside and Parkers gets his kick over. Broncos 6-4

37th min: TRY - Buettner (Tigers) The Broncos unlucky to score with Webb losing the ball over the line. The Tigers response is very quick plays and Buettner eyeing up two tired defenders to run through and score. Hodgson adds the 2 points. Tigers 10-6

40th min: NEWS - A mistake by the Tigers gives the Broncos one last shot at points in the first half. Simpkins cautions the Tigers defenders for the tackles creeping up high

40th min: PENALTY GOAL - Broncos Parker adds 2 points for the high tackles. Tigers 10-8

HALFTIME: Tigers 10 - Broncos 8 The penalty count heavily in favour of the home side by 7-3. Both side a little guilty of easy hand overs in an otherwise very even match

Second half underway..

41st min: NEWS - Elford (Tigers) looks to be in a bit of trouble with his shoulder after tackling a Broncos player

43rd min: NEWS - Another high kick for Richards into the in goal area looks certain to have hit the mark, but this time Kelly is there to clean it up

44th min: TRY - Richards (Tigers) Quick plays once again by the Tigers attack, especially Mears from dummy half stretches the Broncos defence. O'Neill puts in a little grubber behind Kelly and Richards flies at it to score. Hodgson misses the conversion. Tigers 14-8

50th min: NEWS - McGuire (Broncos) hit on the head with the forearm of Bryce Gibbs as he puts in a kick on the fifth tackle. The crowd calling for blood but the ref puts it on report and awards the penalty to the Broncos

54th min: NEWS - Broncos A line drop out to the Broncos results in the Tigers being caught offside. Parker's penalty kick attempt hits the posts and the Tigers grab the possession. Tigers lead 14-8

57th min: NO TRY - The Tigers called back for being offside after Richards once again crosses the line following a high kick which he collected, this time from the boot of O'Neill

63rd min: NEWS - Laffranchi (Tigers) held up in goal on the 4th tackle, the kick on the next once again up for Richards but Kelly is there to tap it dead. The 5th tackle from the line dropout goes over the dead ball line on the 5th. Tigers still leading 14-8

66th min: TRY - Ikin (Broncos) The Broncos set sail for their end of the field. Costigan is tackled by Hodgson right on the goal line. Next play and Ikin ducks over out wide. Parker from the sideline locks the game up. 14 all

68th min: TRY - Civoniceva (Broncos) The captain leads by example as the Tigers make a mistake at the kick off handing possession straight back to a fired up Broncos pack. Civoniceva is there to back up and gets a great offload close to the line to score. Parker misses the conversion. Broncos 18-14

71st min: TRY - Senter (Tigers) A horror 1 minute for Minto. A high kick to his side of the field goes back for the Tigers to regather on the 5th tackle. Once again a high kick from Fitzhenry comes Minto's way. He catches the ball and just manages to get back in the field of play but loses the ball and in amongst all the confusion, Senter gets the try, courtesy of the video ref Tim Mander. Hodgson adds the 2 points. Tigers 20-18

74th min: TRY - McGuire (Broncos) McGuire runs the ball on the fifth tackle and with plenty of support finishes it off under the posts. Parker adds the extra two points. Broncos 24-20

78th min: NEWS - The Tigers aren't giving up in an exciting finish to the match which could still go either way

79th min: NEWS - A penalty on the fifth tackle gives great field possession to the Tigers. Once again the ball is spun to Richards who is extremely close to scoring right in the corner. The video ref is used for an eternity for the important decision which rules it no try

FULLTIME: Right to the death the Tigers could've scored. The Broncos hang on to win 24-20

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - Corey Parker (Broncos) 2 - Petero Civoniceva (Broncos) 1 - Mark O'Neill (Tigers)