Tigers continue on their giant
killing ways

Fulltime score: Round 4 ROOSTERS 26 v TIGERS 32

Match summary:

The Wests Tigers have beaten the Sydney Roosters 32-26 at Aussie Stadium this afternoon to bring to a close another round of superb footy in what can only be described as the best competition we have ever seen.

In consecutive weeks the Tigers have disposed of last years grand finalists in the Bulldogs and Roosters and with those victories, the Tigers have moved into the top six to join the likes of Canberra, Manly and Cronulla, all rank outsiders given little hope by the punters before a ball had even been kicked.

Enough grandstanding on behalf of the battler though and back to the Tigers marvellous win over the Roosters. The Tigers let the Roosters open the scoring but from then on until half time the Tigers made the most of their opportunities and led the Roosters 20-10 at half time.

Midway through the second half the Roosters came back to level the scores at 26 all and after last weeks nail biter against the Dogs, you could be forgiven for thinking the Tigers luck was about to run out. Well 2005 has shown us anything can and usually does happen so in the 72nd minute, Tigers hero Scott Prince stepped up to the plate yet again and gave the Tigers a match winning lead with eight minutes to go.

The Roosters threw everything including what looked to be a kitchen sink but silly unforced errors in the Tigers red zone cost the Roosters any chance at victory and they recorded their second successive loss and now look nothing like the physically dominant side of the past three years.

Kudos to Tim Sheens and the Tigers who are playing with guts, determination and enthusiasm after being written off my many (me included) after their terrible loss to the Eels in round one.

The game caps off a truly mesmerizing round of football that sees all the favourites at the wrong end of the table and all the outsiders occupying the top spots on the NRL ladder.

Scorers: ROOSTERS 26 Tries: Wing, Flannery, Monaghan, Tupou, Roberts Goals: Fitzgibbon 1/3, Roberts 2/2

defeated by

WESTS TIGERS 32 Tries: Heighington, Whatuira, Laffranchi, Richards, Prince Goals: Hodgson 6/6

Aussie Stadium Referee: Stephen Clark

By the clock: A hot and sunny day in Sydney. Kick off soon...

0 min: Kickoff!

6 min: TRY - Roosters. Craig Wing scores. Conversion Craig Fitzgibbon. Roosters 6-0

17 min: TRY - Tigers. Chris Heighington crashes over. Conversion Brett Hosdgson. 6-all

20 min: NEWS - A very physical and tough encounter early on. The Tigers looking the tougher of the two packs so far with John Skandalis and Mark O'Neill throwing their all in.

22 min: PENALTY GOAL - Tigers. Tigers 8-6

24 min: TRY - Tigers Paul Whatuira scores. Conversion successful. Tigers 14-6

28 min: TRY - Roosters. Chris Flannery scores. Conversion unsuccessful. Tigers 14-10

37 min: NEWS - Iosia Soliola (Roosters) who limped off the field earlier has a suspected broken ankle.

39 min: TRY - Tigers Anthony Laffranchi scores. Conversion successful. Tigers 20-10

HALF TIME: Tigers 20-10

Second half underway...

43 min: TRY - Roosters Joel Monaghan scores as the possession evens up. Conversion Amos Roberts successful. Tigers 20-16

47 min: TRY - Roosters. Anthony Tupou scores. Conversion Amos Roberts. Roosters 22-20

55 min: TRY - Tigers Winger Pat Richards has run the length of the field to score. Conversion successful. Tigers 26-22

60 min: A nail biter here at the Sydney Football Stadium with both sides desperate for the two points. Just when the Roosters look like getting back into the match, the Tigers reply with an 80 metre effort. A tough match for both packs although the Tigers seem to be winning the battle up front.

63 min: TRY - Roosters. Amos Roberts scores after another break on the edge of the ruck. Conversion unsuccessful. 26-all

68 min: NO TRY - Tigers denied after Benji Marshall is held up.

70 min: Field Goal attempt - Roosters. Drop goal attempt from Brett Finch goes wide.

72 min: TRY - Tigers. Half back Scott Prince dummies to kick a field goal and then throws another dummy to step through, reaching aout to score. Conversion Hodgson. Tigers 32-26

FULL TIME: Tigers 32-26 Back to back victories for the Wests Tigers. A well deserved win with both packs wearing the bruises.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - M O'Neill (Tigers) 2 - J Cayless (Roosters) 1 - S Prince (Tigers) -----------------------------------------