Tigers hold out to
defeat Cowboys

Round 13
Wests Tigers 24 v North Queensland Cowboys 14
at Telstra Stadium
Referees: Steve Clark

Match Summary:
The Tigers have held out the Cowboys to win the Grand Final replay 24-14. The Tigers led 18-4 at half time.

The Tigers took the lead with an early try to youngster Michael Crockett in the third minute. Hodgson added the conversion and the Tigers were up 6-0. The Cowboys hit back after 11 minutes with a try to Gavin Cooper. The Tigers responded almost instantly with a powerful try to Anthony Laffranchi that was created by a great offload from Ryan O?Hara. The lead was extended to 14 points after 20 minutes when the Tigers followed up a Dean Collis break with Benji Marshall dotting down under the posts. After the frenetic start no more points were added in the first half.

The Cowboys started their comeback in the 47th minute when Brenton Bowen went high to knock a Matt Bowen kick down to Paul Bowman who scored in the corner. The missed conversion made it 18-8. Five minutes later Thurston was in through some neat footwork, and it was 18-14. After two breaks down the left side in the space of a few minutes, Cowboys stand off Shane Muspratt was sin binned for a professional foul, and Brett Hodgson landed a penalty goal for a six point cushion with 20 minutes to go. Try as they might, the Cowboys were unable to breach the Tigers defence, and in the final minute Dean Collis put an exclamation point on the win with a fortunate try in the right corner.

The Tigers have to worry about a hamstring injury to Paul Whatuira for next week, while the Cowboys came out of the game well in injury terms.


Scorers:
Wests Tigers: 24
Tries: Dean Collis, Anthony Laffranchi, Benji Marshall, Michael Crockett
Goals: Brett Hodgson 4/5
North Queensland Cowboys: 14
Tries: Paul Bowman, Johnathan Thurston, Gavin Cooper
Goals: Johnathan Thurston 1/3

By the Clock:
We're here at Telstra Stadium for the Grand Final replay. Cowboys vs Tigers.

Both teams have been down on form in recent weeks, however the Tigers come in off a 44-4 flogging of the Rabbitohs, whilst the Cowboys are coming off a 15-14 extra time loss to the Raiders in Townsville.

Both teams are as per-program. Conditions are overcast. Not much of a crowd in. Maybe about 15,000.

1 min: And we are underway at Telstra Stadium!

4 min: Video referee for a Tigers try...

4 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Shades of the Grand Final for the Tigers, great passing gets to Michael Crockett out wide on the last, and he races down the sideline to score in the corner. Hodgson converts off the posts.
Tigers 6-0

8 min: Prince puts up a poor bomb, the Tigers regather and lose 20 metres before Thurston picks up the loose ball.

11 min: TRY North Queensland Cowboys
Some quick passing right on the line has Gavin Cooper scoring in the tackle of Scott Prince. Thurston drops the conversion short from out wide.
Tigers 6-4

16 min: TRY Wests Tigers
A great offload from O'Hara sets up Laffranchi to burst over from 15 metres out. Hodgson converts.
Tigers 12-4

20 min: TRY Wests Tigers
A fantastic Tigers try. Collis gets put away down the right side, he gets wrapped up. The next play the ball gets to Marshall who steps and scores. No football score today, it's probably going to be more like an AFL score. Hodgson converts.
Tigers 18-4

25 min: Cowboys go on attack, Thurston puts in a dreadful grubber on the second tackle.

32 min: The Cowboys are penalised for obstruction on attack, the penalty is then advanced 10 metres.

36 min: Cowboys just aren't clicking in attack, they lose the ball on attack again.

38 min: Marshall kicks for himself, regathers, jinks, steps and offloads to a team mate who drops the ball.

40 min: The Phantom Siren goes, and not long afterwards we go to half time with the Tigers up 18-4.

Stats
Tigers with 58% of the possession. Very good completion rates from both teams, 15/18 for the Tigers and 13/17 for the Cowboys. The Cowboys have made 145 tackles and missed 16, the Tigers are 118/10. The Cowboys have made twice as many offloads at the Tigers (10-5).

40 min: Back underway at Telstra Stadium!

43 min: Video referee for a Cowboys try - nil chance of it being awarded.

43 min: NO TRY - Sing is denied in the corner.

47 min: TRY North Queensland Cowboys
After a strong few sets of defence for the Tigers, they finally break. Bowen kicks across for Brenton Bowen who taps the ball down to Bowman who dots down out wide. Thurston hooks the conversion too much and misses.
Tigers 18-8

52 min: TRY North Queensland Cowboys
After another Tigers mistake Thurston runs onto the ball and beats several tacklers to score under the posts. He converts.
Tigers 18-14

55 min: Video referee for a Tigers try....

55 min: NO TRY - Tigers. Payten nearly dives on a kick, but the ball is ruled to have been forced by the Cowboys.

59 min: After a Tigers breakout, Paul Whatuira is taken off the field with an injury.

60 min: SIN BIN: Shane Muspratt is sin binned for a professional foul after a Tigers break.

61 min: PENALTY GOAL Wests Tigers
After a Tigers break, Muspratt is penalised and sin binned for a professional foul. Hodgson lands the penalty goal for a 6 point lead.
Tigers 20-14

70 min: The Tigers manage to hold out a concerted Cowboys attack.

74 min: Prince is pressured out of a field goal attempt. Still 20-14.

77 min: Cowboys penalised in possession for an obstruction.

78 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Wests Tigers
Prince misses a field goal.
Tigers 20-14

80 min: TRY Wests Tigers
The Tigers spread the ball, it gets batted up by a Cowboys player, Collis comes down with it and races 20 metres to score in the corner. Hodgson misses the conversion.
Tigers 24-14
-----------------------------------------
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Anthony Laffranchi (Tigers)
2 - Dean Collis (Tigers)
1 - Ryan O'Hara (Tigers)
-----------------------------------------