Tigers try-fest routs Roosters

The Wests Tigers have overcome an early 12-0 deficit to down the Sydney Roosters 40 points to 24 tonight at the SFS.

Both teams got off to a steady start, before the Roosters fired on all cylinders at the eigth minute, with two quickfire tries to Mitchell Aubusson had the scoreline out to 12 points to nil by the eleventh minute.

Coming out of the sheds trailing 18 points to 10, the Tigers wasted no time in reeling back the scoreline, almost scoring a try before Benji Marshall booted a penalty goal to reduce the scoreline to six.

From that point on, it was all Tigers for the majority of the first half, with the Roosters appearing to run out of gas early.

A repeat set, followed by some handy offloads saw the Tigers with an overlap down the right side where Dean Collis darted over in the 17th to get the Tigers on the board.

Chris Lawrence, playing his 50th first grade game, celebrated with a two-try effort, the first of which came in the 28th after Craig Fitzgibbon lost the ball cold, leaving it for Lawrence to collect and race away for the spoils.

The Roosters finally regained composure, and just before half time executed the perfect second-man movement for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to dot down in the corner, giving us our half time scoreline of 18 points to 10.

Following the break, it was the Marshall and Robbie Farah show, with the two Tigers go-to men causing havoc around the ruck for the tiring Roosters forwards.

Following a penalty goal, Farah evened the match up, stretching out to plant the ball next to the sticks at the 50th minute.

Two minutes later, Farah and Marshall combined to give the Tigers the lead for the first time. Farah's quick darts out of dummy half got the Roosters on the back-foot, while Marshall made the play of the game when he collected the ball from Todd Payten and, under heavy pressure, immediately threw a no-look, around the back flick pass to Tim Moltzen, who found Taniela Tuiaki on the wing for the first of his two tries.

The Roosters re-gained the lead a short time later, after a good show of strength from Perrett enabled Anasta to collect the easiest try of his career.

Unfortunately for Braith Anasta's men, the last twenty minutes belonged to the Tigers, who scored three more tries, including Tuiaki and Lawrence's second, to close out the match.

Match Details Wests Tigers 40 def Sydney Roosters 24 Round 3 :: Friday, March 27th, 2009 Venue: Sydney Football Stadium Crowd: Referees: Tony Archer & Gavin Badger Touch Judges: Jeff Younis & Russell Turner Video Ref: Bill Harrigan Half time: Roosters 18-10

Wests Tigers (40) Tries: Dean Collis, Chris Lawrence (2), Robbie Farah, Beau Ryan, Taniela Tuiaki, Tim Moltzen Goals: Benji Marshall (6/8) Sydney Roosters (24) Tries: Mitchell Aubusson (2), Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (4/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match 3 Points: Robbie Farah (Tigers) 2 Points: Benji Marshall (Tigers) 1 Point: Chris Lawrence (Tigers)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good evening and welcome to the SFS for tonights match between the Wests Tigers and the Sydney Roosters. Although tonights game is technically a home game for the Tigers, any home ground advantage is lost as the SFS is also the Roosters home ground.

Team changes are as such: Tigers: Coach Sheens has refrained from making any changes to the team that went down last week. Roosters: Due to the injury to Anthony Minichiello, coach Fittler has elected to play Ben Jones at fullback, with Sam Perrett moving to the wing. Tuigamala moves back to the bench, with Cherrington dropping off.

TIGERS: 1. Tim Moltzen 2. Taniela Tuiaki 3. Dean Collis 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Beau Ryan 6. John Morris 7. Benji Marshall 8. Bryce Gibbs 9. Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Gareth Ellis 12. Chris Heighington 13. Dene Halatau Interchange: 14. Corey Payne 15. Rhys Hanbury 16. Danny Galea 17. Dene Halatau ROOSTERS: 18. Ben Jones 1. Sam Perrett 3. Mitchell Aubusson 4. Iosia Soliola 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Braith Anasta 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Mark O'Meley 9. James Aubusson 10. Nate Myles 11. Willie Mason 12. Craig Fitzgibbon 13. Setaimata Sa Interchange: 2. Sonny Tuigamala 14. Frank-Paul Nuuausala 15. Lopini Paea 16. Shane Shackleton

Both teams are one and one for the season, and positioned right next to eachother on the ladder. Which team will pull ahead and possibly into the eight? Stay tuned to find out!

0 min: And we're underway! Roosers to get first use of the ball.

1 min: Good start for the Roosters, making good ground before Pearce finds touch five out from the Tigers line.

3 min: PENALTY - Tigers: Tony Archer wastes no time in blowing his first penalty for the year, finding the Roosters up inside the ten. Tigers to start on the Roosters 40.

4 min: Benji Marshall puts a cheeky little grubber through early for Taniela Tuiaki, who unfortunately knocks it on with the tryline begging.

5 min: PENALTY - Roosters: Chris Lawrence guilty of slowing down in the tackle. Roosters up on halfway.

6 min: Tim Moltzen collections Pearce's grubber, but has it stolen one-on-one by Mitch Aubusson. Early goal line pressure here for the Tigers.

8 min: TRY Sydney Roosters Braith Anasta fires a lovely 20-metre pass out to Aubusson who finishes what he started with the strip on Moltzen. Worrying signs for the Tigers as there was no defender in kooee of Aubusson. Conversion attempt by successful. Sydney Roosters 6-0

11 min: TRY Sydney Roosters A great set by the Roosters forwards puts Pearce in a position to put an attacking bomb in. Kenny-Dowall collects the ball, and passes out to Aubusson who grabs his second try in as many minutes. Conversion attempt by Craig Fitzgibbon successful. Sydney Roosters 12-0

13 min: PENALTY - Tigers: A relieving penalty for the Tigers here, with Fitzgibbon caught with his hand on the ball.

15 min: A lovely grubber into the in goal is collected by Jones, but the Tigers defence traps him and earns themselves a repeat set.

17 min: TRY Wests Tigers Easy try for the Tigers, who used a big overlap down the right side to their full advantage. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful. Sydney Roosters 12-4

19 min: PENALTY - Tigers: Sa goes on with the tackle for too long, and the Tigers will go searching for more points.

20 min: Tigers looking very dangeous here, with Marshall forcing yet another repeat set through the drop out.

21 min: Great defence from Perrett denies Tuiaki just a metre from the line.

23 min: PENALTY - Roosters: A silly penalty from Corey Payne gives the Roosters some easy metres and, more importantly, a break for them to catch their breaths as the Tigers as in full command at the moment.

26 min: Lucky break for the Tigers. Farah chipped through the line on the last, then chipped ahead again for himself, however the ball went to Jones, who took off. Jones then had the ball knocked out of his grasp, and was regathered by a Tiger.

26 min: Disapointing end to the set, with Morris kicking over the dead ball line on the full.

28 min: VIDEO REF - Possible Tigers Try... Archer sending this one upstairs to look for a possible strip on Fitzgibbon.

28 min: TRY Wests Tigers Fitzgibbon ruled to have lost the ball cold in the middle of the field, where it is then pounced upon by Lawrence who races 40 for a try in his 50th first grade game. Tigers back within two. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful. Sydney Roosters 12-10

33 min: Ben Jones continued what has been a nervous night for himself, letting a monster bomb from Morris bounce before collecting under enormous pressure from the Tigers defence.

34 min: PENALTY - Roosters: Roosters get a relieving penalty and will find themselves in decent attacking position.

37 min: VIDEO REF - Possible Roosters Try... Roosters look to have scored a great try here, however it's been sent upstairs to check for a possible obstruction.

37 min: TRY Sydney Roosters A beautifully executed second man play gives the Roosters a vital try just before half time. Conversion attempt by Craig Fitzgibbon successful. Sydney Roosters 18-10

38 min: James Aubusson lands a 40/20, and the Roosters will have one more chance to extend their lead.

38 min: Fizgibbon loses the ball on the very first tackle, and the Tigers should be able to keep this scoreline intact heading into half time.

HALF TIME It's half time here at the SFS, and after being down very early, the Tigers have fought their way back into this match, however an important try to Kenny Dowall just before half time sees the Roosters holding an eight point lead at the break, going into the sheds leading 18 points to 10.

Both teams are back on the field. Will the Roosters be able to hang on to their lead, or will Benji Marshall use some of that Marshall magic to steal a win for the Tigers. Stay tuned, the second half is just moments away!

40 min: Anasta gets the second half underway!

41 min: Marshall uses some of that magic early, going on a long run downfield before eventually being taken down.

43 min: PENALTY - Tigers: An early chance for the Tigers, after Pearce makes contact with Marshall in the air after he put a kick in. Tigers taking the shot at goal.

44 min: PENALTY GOAL Wests Tigers Tigers back within a converted try. Sydney Roosters 18-12

46 min: Roosters gain a repeat set, of sorts, after watching their play fall to pieces on the Tigers line, with a ball going to ground before being scooped up by Lawrence. Lawrence races 40 metres before losing the ball in a tackle and it's regathered by the Roosters.

48 min: Roosters guilty of trying to force the impossible pass, losing it right on the Tigers line.

48 min: PENALTY - Tigers: Roosters up inside the ten, Tigers get an easy ride out of their half.

50 min: A Farah grubber through is kicked at by the Roosters and it's six again for the Tigers.

51 min: TRY Wests Tigers Farah got them a fresh set of six, but he only needed one, stretching out to plant the ball next to the sticks. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful. 18 all

52 min: Danger signs for the Roosters, with Farah and Marshall having a field day, finding out lazy defenders left, right and centre.

53 min: TRY Wests Tigers Marshall puts in his effort for pass of the year, throwing a no-look around the back flick pass to Moltzen who takes it to the line before finding Tuiaki on the wing and in the corner. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall unsuccessful. Wests Tigers 22-18

56 min: Marshall runs to the sideline, trying to get Tuiaki to come in on his inside, only instead gets taken over the sideline by the enthusiastic Roosters defence.

58 min: TRY Sydney Roosters Perrett looks to have bombed a certain try, ignoring a three on one overlap to instead come back inside. A good show of strength, however, allows him to stay alive in the tackle long enough to offload to Anasta who simply falls over the line for the try. Conversion attempt by Craig Fitzgibbon successful. Sydney Roosters 24-22

60 min: Nate Myles makes a complete meal of it on the very first tackle. Tigers with a fresh set on the Roosters ten.

60 min: Myles breathes a sigh of relief, as Lawrence loses it forward on the first tackle.

61 min: PENALTY - Roosters: Now a relieving penalty after Morris is found lying around in the tackle.

62 min: Moltzen gets trapped in-goal, and the Roosters will get another go at the Tigers line.

65 min: VIDEO REF - Possible Tigers Try... Tuiaki looks to have scored a spectacular try, however it's been sent up to the video ref for some scrutiny, possibly on the onside and putdown.

65 min: TRY Wests Tigers A towering torpedo bomb is allowed to bounce by Tuigamala, regathered by Lawrence and passed onto Tuiaki who beats about four Roosters on the way to the line. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful. Wests Tigers 28-24

69 min: Both Marshall and Anasta showing their prowess at towering torpedo bombs, with their respective fullbacks proving up to the task.

70 min: Farah once again goes for glory with a chip n chase through the line, but once again fails to regather. Fortunately for him, Tuigamala knocks on on the ensuing play-the-ball.

71 min: PENALTY - Roosters: Tigers up inside the ten. Easy metres for the Roosters, who are now down on the Tigers 30.

73 min: Great stuff by Moltzen, who collects the ball in his in-goal, then evades two attempted tackles to get back to the field of play.

74 min: TRY Wests Tigers He started the play, it's only fitting he finished it. On the back of a bullocking 40 metre run by Tuiaki, the Roosters found themselves on the backfoot. Farah kicked cross-field to Lawrence, who tapped it back in to Moltzen who set sail for the corner. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful. Wests Tigers 34-24

75 min: Roosters went the short kickoff, and it paid off...well, for about three tackles, until Lopini Paea lost it forward.

79 min: Farah pulls a 40/20 out of his hat, and the Tigers will close out this one with ball in hand.

80 min: VIDEO REF - Possible Tigers Try... Just checking on the put down here.

80 min: TRY Wests Tigers First play off the scrum, Marshall goes shortside and finds Lawrence who collects his second of the match. Conversion attempt by Benji Marshall successful. Wests Tigers 40-24

FULL TIME It's full time here at the SFS, with the Tigers overcoming an early 12-0 deficit to come back and thrash the Roosters 40 points to 24.