Tigers keep top four hopes alive with win over Eels

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The West Tigers have fought off a second half comeback from the Parramatta Eels to serve them a 31-12 defeat in front of a 18,626 crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Tigers revealed their intentions early as they dominated the Eels all over the paddock in the opening half.

Blake Ayshord opened up the scoring for the home side in only the tenth minute after a nice set play from the Tigers.

A little bit of Benji Marshall magic created the Tigers' next points, the Kiwi international threw a brilliant no look pass to create a try for Matthew Utai in the 21st minute.

Marshall did it all himself in the 28th minute putting on three steps to fool the Eels' defence before scoring just to the left of the upright. 

The Tigers were given a few opportunities to extend their lead late in half, however some desperate defence from the visitors ensure the score remained unchanged for the remainder of the half.

It was the visitors who took control early in the second 40 as they dominated possession in early minutes of the half.

The Eels were rewarded for their efforts in the 49th minute when Chris Hicks scored in the corner courtesy of a clever cutout pass from Jarryd Hayne.

Hayne was the orchestrator again only four minutes later when he put up a brilliant cross field bomb which saw Ben Smith dive over for a try.

Hayne was the villian for his side only a few minutes later when he missed a tackle on Blake Ayshford who raced down the right touch line for his double. 

The Tiger extended their lead to 12 with a penalty goal in the 68th minute to go in front by two converted tries.

Hayne was the villian for his side again when he knock on 40 out from his own line in the 75th minute to give the Tigers some prime field position and enable Robbie Farrah to kick a field goal.

The home side were not done yet however, winger Beau Ryan crossed the Tigers' fifth try of the match right on full time.



Match Details
Wests Tigers 31 defeated Parramatta Eels 12
National Rugby League - Round 24 - Sunday August 21, 2011 3:00pm
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Chris James
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Ricky MacFarlane and Henry Perenara
Crowd: 18,626
Halftime: Wests Tigers 16 Parramatta Eels 0

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Tim Moltzen
2 Points - Benji Marshall (1 Try, 4 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
1 Point - Blake Ayshford (2 Tries)

WESTS TIGERS (31)
Tries: Matthew Utai, Benji Marshall, Beau Ryan, Blake Ayshford (2)
Field Goals: Robbie Farah (1/1)
Conversions: Benji Marshall (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Benji Marshall (1/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (12)
Tries: Ben Smith, Chris Hicks
Conversions: Luke Burt (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Afternoon NRL fans and welcome to the Sydney Football Stadium where the West Tigers take on the Parramatta Eels.
We have good conditions in Sydney at the moment and the rain should stay away this afternoon.
Both sides will be eager for a win here today, for the Tigers a win today will virtually guarantee them a final's berth, while for the Eels, they will be desperate to move off the bottom of the ladder.
The home side have announced one late change to their 17 named on Tuesday night, second rower Garreth Ellis is out and will be replaced by Mark Flanaghan.
1 min: Luke Burt kicks off to bring the match underway.
2 min: The West Tigers are penalised on halfway in attack after Brown throws a deliberate forward pass.
3 min: Luke Burt goes to the air early in the tackle count but he puts a little too much on it.
3 min: Hayne pulls off a one on one strip 20 out from the Tigers' line.
4 min: Hayne kicks a grubber on the fourth, his kick hits the cross bar but Moltzen is able to clean it up.
5 min: Farrah kicks from halfway on the last and Burt fields it ten out on the full and runs back to his own 30 before being tackled.
6 min: Possible Eels' try here, Hayne kicked it on the last from 30 out and Hicks was there chasing to bat it back towards his team mate Smith who passes to Masalo who kicks for himself but Utai grounds it in goal a second before Masalo gets there.
6 min: No try! Line drop out for the Eels.
7 min: Hindmarsh knocks on only 10 out from the Tigers' line.
8 min: Eels will get a scrum 40 out from their own line after Tigers' knock on.
9 min: Eels lose the ball 30 out from the Tigers' line.
11 min: TRY
The Tigers send it through the hands quickly and Blake Ayshford scores in the right corner. Marshall misses the conversion.
Wests Tigers 4-0
12 min: Marshall is forced to kick from his own 30 after a good defensive set by the Eels it goes straight down the throat of Burt 25 out from his own line and he runs it back to the 40 before being tackled.
13 min: A good opportunity is squandered again by the Eels after McGuire's bomb is taken on the full in the in goal.
14 min: The Eels concede a penalty for being inside the ten on the Tigers' 40 meters line.
15 min: Heighington loses the ball 15 out from the try line.
16 min: Burt goes to the air 45 out from the Tigers' line but it bounces once before going dead in goal.
17 min: Lui puts in a neat little grubber 15 out and Brown is able to regather it, however he is forced to pass it as he is being tackled and Burt is there to take the catch.
18 min: Beautiful long kick by Jaryd Hayne on the last goes 60 meters before bouncing in between the Tigers' backs only a meter out from the in goal.
19 min: Eels will get a scrum 10 out from their own line after Lui drilled the ball into the corner from 30 out.
20 min: Eels finish their set on halfway before Hayne boots it down the field and it goes dead in goal.
21 min: Eels are penalised for being inside the ten again.
23 min: TRY
The Eels defence is found napping after Benji Marshall throws a no look pass to Heigington who throws a quick inside pass to Utai who strolls over to score. Marshall's conversion is successful.
Wests Tigers 10-0
24 min: Shackleton intercepts a wayward pass 40 out from the Tigers' line.
25 min: Hayne puts up a little banana kick from ten out but Moltzen is able to get to it before any Eels' player.
25 min: Hayne puts up a little banana kick from ten out but Moltzen is able to get to it before any Eels' player.
26 min: Another Marshall kick goes straight down the throat of Burt who runs back to his own 30 before being tackled.
27 min: A great take by Moltzen ten out from his own try line after Hayne puts up a spiralling bomb from 40 out.
28 min: Possible try to Benji Marshall here.
29 min: TRY
McGuire pounces on a loose Farrah pass but loses the ball in a tackle from Utai, Marshall grabs the loose ball puts on a few steps and scores a forty meter try. Marshall converts his own try.
Wests Tigers 16-0
30 min: Marshall finds space this time when the boots the ball down the field from halfway.
31 min: Ben Smith knocks on in the Tigers' in goal after a nice grubber by Chris Hicks down the right touch line.
32 min: Burt makes a 30 meter kick return after Benji Marshall puts in a grubber 30 out from the Eels' line. Burt fields it on his own 10 before running it back to the 40.
33 min: Maitua loses it 30 out from the Tigers' line.
34 min: Fulton loses the ball 20 out from the Eels' line on the last tackle.
35 min: Hayne's kick from halfway goes dead in goal.
35 min: Eels are penalised on the Tigers' 40 meter line.
36 min: Tigers get six again ten meters out after the Eels are penalised.
37 min: Eels are penalised for a strip a meter out from their own try line.
39 min: Farrah grubbers through on the fourth and Burt is forced to play at it before it goes dead in goal.
40 min: Marshall grubbers into the in goal and Ryan Morgan cleans it up for the Eels and runs it back into the field of play.
40 min: Eels get a penalty on half time from 30 out.
41 min: Tim Moltzen kicks off to bring the second 40 under way.
41 min: Hayne attempts a 40/20 on the third tackle but it goes out on the full 25 out.
42 min: Great one on one tackle by Burt to deny Galloway a try on the third.
43 min: Possible try to Matt Utai here.
43 min: No try! Great work by Ben Smith and Luke Burt to deny Utai.
44 min: Eels get six again 40 out from their own line after Galloway plays at a pass.
44 min: Chris Hicks is down for the Eels here. Eels are 25 out on the last.
45 min: Hayne goes to the air on the last and Brown is able to take it a meter out from his line despite the pressure from the Eels' kick chasers.
46 min: Heighington loses the ball 35 out from his own line.
46 min: Eels get a penalty 10 out on the fourth.
47 min: Eels get another penalty.
49 min: TRY
Beautiful cut out pass by Hayne to find Hicks in space ten out and Hicks races over to score in the corner. Burt adds the extras.
Wests Tigers 16-6
50 min: Eels finish their set on the Tigers' 40 meter line before Hayne kicks it down field. Moltzen fields it a few meters out.
51 min: Eels will get a scrum from 15 out after Tigers' error.
51 min: Eels get a penalty from 10 out.
52 min: Possible try to Ben Smith for the Eels here. Brilliant kick by Hayne to set it up.
53 min: TRY
Hayne goes to the air on the last from ten out with a cross field kick, Brown gets to it but knocks it forward into the arms of Smith who scores in the right corner. Burt's conversion is successful.
Wests Tigers 16-12
56 min: A good set by the Eels and they make it to the Tigers 20 on tackle five but a poor kick by Jaryd Hayne takes the pressure off for the home side.
58 min: Lasalo loses the ball 40 out from his own try line.
60 min: TRY
Ayshford scores his double after making a massive break down the right touch line. Marshall's conversion attempt is successful.
Wests Tigers 22-12
61 min: Marshall kicks it on the third from 40 out and Burt fields it on his own 20.
62 min: Hayne puts up a bomb from 40 out on the last but Moltzen diffuses it a few meters from the tryline.
64 min: Hayne almost kicks a 40/20 but Moltzen jumps in the air to throw it back in the field of play just before it bounces out.
65 min: Ayshford takes an intercept 40 out from the Eels' line and Ayshford speeds down the field before being tackled 20 out.
66 min: Tigers get a penalty from 20 out and they'll go for the two.
67 min: PENALTY GOAL
Marshall has no problem kicking the penalty from right in front to extend the Tigers' lead to two converted tries.
Wests Tigers 24-12
72 min: Eels are doing everything they can to get back in it here, but the Tigers are up to it.
73 min: Hayne attempts another 40/20 but McKinnon fields it 10 out from the try line.
75 min: Hayne knocks on 40 out from his own try line.
76 min: FIELD GOAL
Farrah kicks a field goal from 30 out.
Wests Tigers 25-12
78 min: Eels are penalised 40 out from the Tigers' line.
80 min: TRY
The Tigers spread it out wide and Beau Ryan races down the touchline to score on full time. Marshall converts the try.
Wests Tigers 31-12

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