Tigers trounce Titans

The Wests Tigers completed a smashing 39-10 victory over the Gold Coast Titans to ensure they remained in the fight for a home final and the Titans remained in the fight for the wooden spoon.

The difference between the sides was apparent early and within minutes the Tigers capitalised when Marshall broke the Gold Coast line to help Utai to the line. From there the visitors never looked to be in the contest despite a few invitations from their black, white and orange hosts. The Tigers extended their lead in the 15th minute and put on another two tries before the half was over with Ryan, Marshall and Ayshford scoring in the 15th, 20th and 33rd minutes respectively.  Marshall converted at a rate of 75% in the first 40 and with a consolation try to the Titans' Mark Minichiello in the 37th minute helped the Tigers to a 22-4 lead at half time.

Gold coast fought hard to put up a challenge in the second 40 and even scored the first try of the half to ensure they could remain in the contest. David Mead got his name on the scoreboard with the 4 pointer and Campbell added two.  That was however it for the titans scoring, for all their efforts, their hosts proved why there was such a vast distance between the sides on the ladder. The Tigers blew out their lead in the final quarter of the game, first through a try to Tiquiri in his return match, then Moltzen and Heighington also got their names on the scoreboard. Mitch Brown also got his name on the board with the final conversion after Marshall was taken off the field early for preservation purposes.

Farah added a final cherry to the Tiger's victory cake by booting a field goal in the 80th minute to give the Tigers a massive 39-10 triumph. The win ensures the Tigers remain in the fight for a top four finish and home semi final, whilst for the Gold Coast Titans it ensures a wooden spoon play off between them and the Parramatta Eels next weekend.

Match Details
Wests Tigers 39 defeated Gold Coast Titans 10
National Rugby League - Round 25 - Monday August 29, 2011 7:00pm
Venue: Campbelltwon Sports Stadium
Referee: Steve Lyons and Phil Haines
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Adam Reid and David Munro
Crowd: 14,378
Halftime: Wests Tigers 22 Gold Coast Titans 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Benji Marshall (1 Try, 4 Conversions)
2 Points - Chris Heighington (1 Try)
1 Point - Greg Bird

WESTS TIGERS (39)
Tries: Matthew Utai, Chris Heighington, Benji Marshall, Beau Ryan, Tim Moltzen, Blake Ayshford, Lote Tuqiri
Field Goals: Robbie Farah (1/1)
Conversions: Benji Marshall (4/6), Mitch Brown (1/1)

GOLD COAST TITANS (10)
Tries: Mark Minichiello, David Mead
Conversions: Preston Campbell (1/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Evening and welcome to Campbelltown Sports Stadium for a very importand Round 25 clash between the Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans. The Tigers already assured a finals berth are negotiating their final position in the top 8. The Titans conversely can rule themselves out of the wooden spoon race with a win here.
The Toyota Cup saw a smashing 56-18 victory by the Wests Tigers over the Gold Coast under 20s side.
TEAM NEWS: Gibbs and Payten are out for the Tigers with Woods to start for Gibbs and Murdoch and Flanagan added to the bench while the Titans are 1-17.
1 min: Time on as Titans are given first use of the football.
4 min: Both sides start solidly, but the heavy favourites tag looks deserved by the tigers.
5 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Benji Marshall with a short side play dummies and streaks down the left flank before finding Utai who speeds over the touchline for the 4 pointer. Marshall's boot adds the extras.
Wests Tigers 6-0
6 min: Tigers hand Gold Coast an opportunity to hit right back turning over the ball inside their own 20.
7 min: Marshall diffuses a Rankin bomb ensuring no damage is done.
8 min: PENALTY to the Tigers against Toopi for holding down in the play the ball, helping the Tigers to the Gold Coast side of halfway.
11 min: Tigers starting to win the battle territorially.
12 min: Half a chance for Zillman when he attempts to grab a Farrah pass that went to ground, would have had a clear 30 metres to the try line had he not knocked it on.
13 min: PENALTY to the Tigers against Bailey for being inside the ten.
15 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Tigers TRY.
16 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Suberp acrobatic effort from Beau Ryan grounds the ball in the right corner. Conversion attempt from Marshall unsuccessful.
Wests Tigers 10-0
17 min: Tigers again give the Gold Coast a chance to hit back through error right after scoring a try.
18 min: Titans not taking their chances making errors of their own as they find attacking range.
21 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Good short ball from Farrah from dummy half gets it onto Marshall who dummies, breaks the line, then makes his way over the line. Marshall converts his own try.
Wests Tigers 16-0
22 min: Tigers again making post try errors.
22 min: Titans don't really know what to do with it and turn it over cheaply.
23 min: Wests get in attacking range but deny themselves through error.
25 min: Titans get their first PENALTY of the night against Woods for holding down in the play the ball.
27 min: Titans looking quite ordinary with ball in hand, doesn't look to be any way in for them.
28 min: An Ayshford error inside the Tigers' 20 offers the Titans a golden opportunity.
28 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Gold Coast TRY.
28 min: NO TRY! Titans put the ball in the year and 4 Tigers players let it bounce. Ayshford attempts to regather it and appears to knock it on. Steve Michaels in the same frame knocks the ball into Ayshford's hand, thus the red light.
30 min: Tigers regaining some momentum and on the attack with a repeat set at the Gold Coast line.
31 min: PENALTY to the tigers 2 metres out against O'Dwyer for holding down in the play the ball.
34 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Tigers create an overlap on the outside and Ayshford is put in to score. Marshall converts.
Wests Tigers 22-0
35 min: Tigers again make an error in the set following a try when Marshall opens the Titans up on the right side but Minichiello collects a loose passs to let the Gold Coast off the hook. 36 min: Titans continue to offer very little in attack as Ryan defuses a bomb.
36 min: Matt Srama goes for a low tackle and knocks the ball out of Moltzen's grasp.
38 min: TRY
TRY to the Titans!
Titans hit back with a surprise play where Zillman attacks the line with a stab kick which is collected by Minichiello for Gold Coast's first points of the night. Conversion attempt by Campbell unsuccessful.
Wests Tigers 22-4
40 min: Errors from both sides in the final minute of the half before the siren sends them in with the Tigers leading the titans 22 points to 4.
41 min: Second half under way.
41 min: Marshall dummies his way through the line and makes a massive line break before losing the ball 20 out from the Gold Coast line.
43 min: Titans now trying valiantly to fight their way back into the contest.
44 min: PENALTY to the titans against Marshall for holding down in the play the ball.
45 min: Back to back PENALTIES to the Titans, this 5 metres out against Farrah fr a high tackle.
46 min: PENALTY to the Tigers against Rankin in possession.
47 min: David Mead collects a pass from Benji Marshall near half way and sees clear space to the whitewash.
48 min: TRY
TRY to the Titans!
Mead streaks over untouched to give Gold Coast first points on the second 40. Campbell converts.
Wests Tigers 22-10
50 min: Titans starting to show some real fight here as they challenge for this game.
50 min: Tigers help the Gold Coast fight back turning the ball over cheaply.
50 min: And Gold Coast return the ball on the first tackle.
52 min: PENALTY to the Titans against Ellis for a high tackle to help them to the Tigers' side of halfway.
53 min: Tigers get six again when Farrah touches the ball ten out from the Tigers' line.
54 min: Titans again turn the ball over early in the tackle count.
55 min: Mead makes an impressive line break but has no room in front of him and is tackled running sideways.
55 min: Moltzen can't clean up the kick and Titans have some more attacking play.
56 min: PENALTY to the Titans against Flanagan for hands in the play the ball.
56 min: And Srama turns the ball over inside the Tigers' 20.
57 min: PENALTY to the tigers against Tonga for a dangerous throw to help the Tigers to some good attacking territory.
58 min: Back to back PENALTIES to the tigers, this against Bird for hands in the play the ball.
59 min: Six again to the Tigers ten out when the ball is touched by O'Dwyer.
62 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Titans defend strongly, but have no answers to some superb second phase play spreading the ball from sideline to sideline to put Tiquiri in to score in his return match. Conversion attempt from Marshall unsuccessful.
Wests Tigers 26-10
63 min: Tigers again bungle their set after the try when Heighington is tackled into touch 28 out from his own line.
65 min: Ryan defuses a cross field bomb from Campbell and Tigers look to be creating something long range.
65 min: PENALTY to the Tigers against Srama inside the ten.
66 min: VIDEO REFEREE for a possible Wests Tigers TRY.
67 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers
Moltzen strolls through a gap and advances his position to between the posts. Marshall converts easily.
Wests Tigers 32-10
70 min: Solid forward progress from both sides with Tigers having all but wrapped up the game. With the game being all but wrapped up, Marshall is brought off the field and offered an early shower.
71 min: PENALTY to the Tigers against Laffranchi for holding down.
72 min: Back to back PENALTIES to the tigers, this against White for a play the ball infringement.
75 min: Titans offering the Tigers the opportunity for a smashing victory here just asking them to cross again.
79 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Moltzen creates an opportunity which Heighington seizes to cross over to score. Mitch Brown takes the goal kicking duties with Marshall off the field and adds the extras.
Wests Tigers 38-10
80 min: Tigers complete a post try set, but the Titans show them how to err.
80 min: FIELD GOAL
Farah seizes the field position he's been gifted an posts a field goal to take the Tigers to a 39-10 victory.
Wests Tigers 39-10