Tumultuous Tigers prey on Panthers

The West Tigers have humiliated and injury ravaged Penrith Panthers with a 30-0 victory in front of a 15,579 crowd at Centrebet Stadium.

The Panthers were on the back foot before the match even started with coach Ivan Cleary, forced to make five personnel changes and seven positional changes before kick off.

The visitors showed no mercy to their hosts, with Benji Marshall a stand out as they dominated the depleted Panthers side all over the park. 

The Tigers made their intentions clear early, choosing to run it on the last in their first set of the match, however Marshall's pass was too much for a flying Lote Tiuqiri who dropped it cold.

A knock on from Sandor Earl in the fourth minute provided the Tigers the opening they needed and Adam Blair crashed over for a try a minute later. 

It was not all smiles for the Tigers however, losing captain Robbie Farrah in the 13th minute. Somebody must have placed a curse on starting hookers at Penrith, because Panthers' hooker Travis Burns was forced of the field with a concussion less than ten minutes later.

Tim Moltzen added to the Panthers' woes within in the same minute, crossing for the Tigers' second on the back of a counter attack by the visitors. 

A clever pass from Marshall in the 28th minute put Ray Cashmere over for the third Tigers try.

The Tigers were gifted opportunities as the came to a close, but the visitors failed to add to their total. 

The crowd was forced to wait 23 minutes before a try was scored after the break, this time it was Tigers' half Tom Humble who crossed. 

Moltzen finished of the scoring in the 75 minute when he crossed for his double.

Match Details
Penrith Panthers 0 were defeated by Wests Tigers 30
National Rugby League - Round 7 - Sunday April 15, 2012 3:00pm
Venue: Centrebet Stadium, Penrith
Referee: Tony Archer and Chris James
Video Referee: Russell Smith
Touch Judges: Jeff Younis and Michael Wise
Crowd: 15,579
Halftime: Penrith Panthers 0 Wests Tigers 18

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Benji Marshall (5 Conversions)
2 Points - Tim Moltzen (2 Tries)
1 Point - Adam Blair (1 Try)

Penrith Panthers (0)

Wests Tigers (30)
Tries: Ray Cashmere, Adam Blair, Tim Moltzen (2), Tom Humble
Conversions: Benji Marshall (5/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good afternoon NRL fans and welcome to Centrebet Stadium where the Penrith Panthers take on the West Tigers.
Panthers' coach Ivan Cleary has announced several late changes to hist side. Etu Uaisele, Michael Jennings, Kevin Kingston, Mitch Achurch Ryan Simpkins are all out. Sandor Earl comes in for Uaisele, Geoff Daniella replaces Jennings, Travis Burns moves to hooker to cover for Kingston while Blake Austin shifts into the five-eighth role and Matt Robinson, Chris Armit and Nafe Seluini come onto the bench.
1 min: Tigers run it on the last with Benji Marshall throwing a cut out pass, but it's too much for Tuqiri who knocks on 45 out from the Panthers' line.
4 min: Earl knocks on 20 meters from his own line and the Tigers will go right on the attack.
7 min: TRY
TRY! Adam Blair scores a try for the Tigers after some good dummy half work from Robbie Farrah. Marshall adds the extras.
Wests Tigers 6-0
10 min: Panthers receive a relieving penalty.
11 min: Walsh kicks a chip bomb on the last and it's all too easy for Chris Lawrence who diffuses it.
12 min: Tigers get a penalty
13 min: Farrah has been concussed after head butting Dane Weston's hip in a tackle.
18 min: Tigers will get a line drop out after a wonderful kick by Benji Marshall.
19 min: Penrith counter attack after the Tigers lose possession.
20 min: Possible try to Lachlan Coote for thePanthers.
21 min: No try! Luke Lewis's foot was on the line when he batter the ball back to Lachlan Coote.
22 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Aaron Woods makes a big break before finding Reddy who finds Moltzen who goes in to score Marshall converts.
Wests Tigers 12-0
23 min: Travis Burns looking very groggy comes off the field and is assisted itno t he sheds.
26 min: PENALTY to the Panthers for Tigers offside and this opens a great opportunity for Penrith from 20 out.
27 min: Panthers ruled to have played at something and Wests are given six again 30 out from the PEnrith line.
29 min: TRY
TRY to the Tigers!
Smart pass from Marshall hits Ray Cashmere in the chest 5 out and he is in to score near the posts. Marshall converts.
Wests Tigers 18-0
31 min: Penrith error, scrum Tigers.
33 min: Frustration in the Panthers' camp as they concede another error.
34 min: PENALTY Tigers, who are just being gifted opportunities.
35 min: Penrith intercept a forward pass.
37 min: Penrith come up with it from a messy play and they are beginning to look much better with ball in hand.
40 min: Penrith have a scrum feed 30 out from the Tigers' line for a chance to do something before half time.
40 min: They try something and it is easily cleaned up and played dead by the Tigers to take the game into half time with the Tigers leading Penrith 18 points to nil.
41 min: Second half under way.
41 min: Junior Moors is receiving attention after being accidentally kneed in the head. News on Farah is that he will not be back this afternoon.
44 min: The interval appears to have energised the Panthers and they look ready and willing to fight their way back into this game.
45 min: Tigers forward pass and the Panthers have a scrum 40 out from the Tigpies' line.
46 min: Matt Robinson in possession is penalised and put on report for an elbow in Moltzen's face.
48 min: Tigers cough the ball up to gift Penrith a scrum.
50 min: Penrith mistake and Tigers have a scrum ten out from their own line.
55 min: We seem to have hit a lull in proceedings, mistakes aplenty, but no one doing anything of note.
61 min: Penrith have a chance to maybe get on the board, after a Tigers error.
63 min: Blake Austin goes close but is held. Penrith can't take anything from the set and Tigers go the full length, checking if Tom Humble has scored.
64 min: TRY
It's given! Joel Reddy is away, he offloads to Tuiqiri who finds Marshall with Humble finishing off the move, to just plunge the dagger in deeper for Penrith. Marshall makes no mistake with the conversion.
Wests Tigers 24-0
65 min: The game has once again, hit a lull.. Lawrence spills it.
66 min: Line break by Luke Lewis but he's got no support, once again the set ends fruitlessly for Penrith. Moltzen sets off for a kick return but has gone down and is clutching his leg.
67 min: Another error from the Tigers, this time Moltzen.
67 min: Penrith are trying to force the ball over the try line but it's just not coming. Coote throws the ball away and Tigers will work it away.
69 min: Marshall magic again, he takes it upon himself and breaks the line, looking for support but when he does, it's forward to Lawrence.
70 min: Panthers try the razzle dazzle again but it fizzles like their attacking has all afternoon.
75 min: The game is winding down here, Wests can't lose it and Penrith can't win.
77 min: TRY
Lovely link work for the Tiger's fifth try of the afternoon. Tuiqiri finds space then his five eighth who had Moltzen in tow who just finished it off. Marshall from close to touch, converts and continues his perfect afternoon.
Wests Tigers 30-0
80 min: FULLTIME! Penrith have been beaten by thirty in consecutive weeks. Tigers have been primed for a big game and it finally came, for their second victory of the 2012 campaign.