Tigers overpower depleted Knights

The Wests Tigers have returned to the winners circle with a competent 33-14 victory over the Newcastle Knights.

After a week most Novacastions would rather forget, a strong crowd of 13,609 turned out in terrible weather to watch their team do the town proud on the footy field.

With so many young players taking the field and the early loss of captain Kirk Reynoldson with medial ligament damage, most judges would consider Newcastle lucky to be in the contest until the 68th minute.

The game began with Newcastle having a good share of the ball without being able to convert. But in the 19th minute they claimed their first try of the match through young-gun Cory Paterson, who took a good ball from halfback Luke Walsh and went over out wide.

The Tigers hit back soon after through hooker Robbie Farah, with Bryce Gibbs laying on the try for the hopeful NSW hooker. Shortly after a soft effort from to Chris Heighington, this time engineered by Farah, put the visitors ahead by 8 points with the Tigers appearing to take control.

Newcastle got out of jail just before halftime though, with a great effort from centre Brad Tighe. Bailey and Walsh conspired to give the ball to Tighe in space and he didn