Tigers roar and shout as Green Machine bow out

The Wests Tigers had to battle the in-form Canberra Raiders and various counts of deja vu to send themselves into a highly anticipated preliminary final against St George Illawarra. The Tigers did their fans proud, coming off the heartbreaking loss from last week to defeat the Raiders 26-24 at Canberra Stadium.

The Tigers started with a bang to score early, before Bronson Harrison levelled up. The match then turned another corner as Benji Marshall laid on tries for Gareth Ellis and Lote Tuqiri to send the Tigers out to a 12 point lead. The Raiders came back once again through Bronson Harrison as he set up a try to put them in a respectable position at the break, still trailing 18-12.

Chris Lawrence crossed early for the Tigers to put them in a match-winning position. The Raiders followed it up with a rare try to Trevor Thurling. However, in the moments leading up to it, tackle machine Shaun Fensom and captain Terry Campese were both taken off the field with injury, forcing the Raiders to dig deeper. Former captain Alan Tongue lead the side from the front, scoring to send them into a 26-24 deficit.

With minutes remaining Simon Dwyer, fresh from his controversial tackle on Rooster Jared Waerea-Hargreaves at the death of last week's epic, scored a high shot on Scott Logan. With a chance to level the scores, the kick from young gun Jarrod Croker went away, as did the premiership hopes of the Canberra Raiders.

The Tigers however move onto the preliminary final, with a fully fit Benji Marshall well and truly leading the way.

Match Details
Canberra Raiders 24 were defeated by Wests Tigers 26
National Rugby League - Finals Week 2 - Friday September 17, 2010 7:45pm
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer and Jared Maxwell
Video Referee: Bill Harrigan
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Jeff Younis
Crowd: 26,476
Halftime: Canberra Raiders 12 Wests Tigers 18

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Benji Marshall (4 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
2 Points - Keith Galloway
1 Point - Terry Campese

CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Alan Tongue, Joel Monaghan, Trevor Thurling, Bronson Harrison
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (0/1)

WESTS TIGERS (26)
Tries: Chris Heighington, Chris Lawrence, Gareth Ellis, Lote Tuqiri
Conversions: Benji Marshall (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Benji Marshall (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to Canberra Stadium for the first sudden death match of 2010! The in-form Canberra Raiders will take on the Wests Tigers tonight in what will be an intriguing match. The winner tonight earns the right to challenge Minor Premiers St George Illawarra for a spot in the 2010 Grand Final.
Canberra fans have had a great start to the night, with their Toyota Cup team making the preliminary final against South Sydney, with a tough 22-18 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys. The Raiders looked to be home, before a late James Segeyaro try. They held on well though to win.
LATE MAIL - Canberra Raiders

The Raiders will line up as per program with no changes. Travis Waddell and Danny Galea are removed from the extended bench.
LATE MAIL - Wests Tigers

Chris Lawrence will start the match, moving into the right centres. Mitch Brown will move from that position to fullback, replacing Sean Meaney. Bryce Gibbs moves from the bench to the starting front row, with Todd Payten moving to the back row, in place of Liam Fulton who moves to the bench. Mark Flanagan, Ben Murdoch-Musilia and Sam Latu are all removed from the extended bench.
Can't get to the game? Not only are you able to follow the game here, you can now follow it on Twitter! www.twitter.com/leagueunlimited has all the latest news! Scores, signings and scandals, it's all there!
The two sides are coming out!
We're underway!
1 min: Already an early penalty in favour of Wests.
2 min: The fifth tackle option didn't work with the Tigers, the ball going over the sideline.
4 min: Beau knows how to go over the sideline, following a brilliant long pass from Benji Marshall.
6 min: TRY
Chris Heighington Try, Benji Marshall Goal
Keith Galloway goes straight through the line, before Chris Heighington finds space, breaking tackles to hit the gap and score.
Wests Tigers 6-0
9 min: Benji Marshall is obviously not feeling any bit of injury. He chips and sends it to Beau Ryan, who spills it.
11 min: Last tackle, Terry Campese kicks and Lote Tuqiri nearly AFL punches it back to Canberra for six more.
13 min: TRY
Bronson Harrison Try, Jarrod Croker Goal All the pressure eventually hits as former Tiger Bronson Harrison breaks the line to score out wide.
6 all
15 min: Tigers aiming up in defence again, they've got the ball.
16 min: TRY
Gareth Ellis Try, Benji Marshall Goal He only needs one attempt this time. Gareth Ellis scores following a beautiful pass from guess who...Benji Marshall.
Wests Tigers 12-6
20 min: TRY
Lote Tuqiri Try, Benji Marshall Goal The ball goes wide and Lote Tuqiri finds no opposition. Way too easy that. He is able to improve the position to score under the sticks.
Wests Tigers 18-6
22 min: Another Canberra knock on. Tigers completely dominant so far. Just like last week, except there is no desperate defence in their way.
24 min: Tigers on the attack again, but Daniel Vidot takes the ball in-goal despite attention from Lote Tuqiri.
27 min: TRY
Joel Monaghan Try, Jarrod Croker Goal From a scrum, Bronson Harrison busts straight through the line, sending Joel Monaghan over as the high scoring continues.
Wests Tigers 18-12
30 min: Tigers attempt to push Josh Dugan in goal, but get penalised for a strip.
32 min: Robbie Farah sends Lote Tuqiri out wide, but he's knocked it on.
34 min: Tigers receiving a contentious penalty here as Terry Campese is ruled to have stripped the ball from Beau Ryan.
37 min: Beau does know how to drop it. Third time he has spilt it near the line.
37 min: Beau does know how to drop it. Third time he has spilt it near the line.
38 min: Josh Dugan through, but falls over.
38 min: Now a penalty! Here comes Canberra!
40 min: No try, but a line drop out. There wont be enough time and Wests lead 18-12 at the break.
40 min: Second half underway! This will be the last forty minutes for one of these teams (well...maybe...could be sixty again).
44 min: Decent metres being made from both sides.
47 min: Scott Logan is penalised and put on report for a high shot on Chris Heighington. Heighington goes off and some Raiders fans have voiced the opinion that he might be feigning it, the Tigers get a free interchange.
48 min: The Tigers will go well on the attack here.
49 min: TRY
Chris Lawrence Try, Benji Marshall Goal The comeback kid scores as the Tigers get a sweet set of passing out wide near the tryline.
Wests Tigers 24-12
52 min: Terry Campese cuts the line wide open but is stopped thirty metres out.
54 min: Canberra kick but Wests charge it down. Regaining it Canberra have six to go near the line.
55 min: Possible try to Trevor Thurling (Canberra).
55 min: Terry Campese down hurt, this try looks good to me.
55 min: TRY
Trevor Thurling Try, Jarrod Croker Goal It's a try but the news regarding Terry Campese looks bad. The ground is silent as he gets taken off in the medicab. They will have to finish this off without their fearless leader.
Wests Tigers 24-18
58 min: Canberra will have to do this with fifteen men, as Terry Campese and Shaun Fensom are unable to come back on tonight. Chris Heighington making his return however for the Tigers.
63 min: Wests with an error, Canberra with a chance!
64 min: Bronson Harrison is stripped, but they regather, six to go!
64 min: Josh Dugan, having such a good game, throws a shocker over the sideline. Maybe trying to take Terry Campese's place?
66 min: Lote Tuqiri through, kicks ahead to Josh Dugan who is forced over the touchline by Benji Marshall. Here comes the Tigers!
68 min: They say referees may cost a team this premiership. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs attempts to get off a tackle but Bryce Gibbs holds on to him, before flopping under him. A penalty is given and the Tigers will be set to extend their lead with the boot.
68 min: PENALTY GOAL
Benji Marshall Goal Benji makes no mistake and the Tigers might have a match winning lead.
Wests Tigers 26-18
74 min: Raiders captain Alan Tongue might have scored here! Looking for obstruction.
74 min: TRY
Alan Tongue Try, Jarrod Croker Goal Tongue goes from dummy half, uses momentum to get over the line. A brave effort and the game is on!
Wests Tigers 26-24
76 min: Penalty! As Simon Dwyer catches Scott Logan high, the same man to get Jared Waerea-Hargreaves last week and Jarrod Croker will have a difficult shot for goal to level up.
76 min: PENALTY GOAL ATTEMPT
He's wide! Missed!
Wests Tigers 26-24
80 min: Canberra knock it on and it's a scrum! Wests fans could be nervous here.
80 min: They got the scrum, and they've got the win! Wests Tigers will face St George Illawarra next week for a spot in the Grand Final.