The Wests Tigers looked like a top four side in their first half against the North Queensland Cowboys and then more like a bottom four side in the second half as they finished 36-20 winners at Campbelltown tonight.
The Tigers raced out to a 34-0 lead at halftime, but lost the second half 20-2 to a resurgent Cowboys side in a very up and down game for both outfits.
Wests Tigers crossed for a try in just the first minute of the game after Jason Taumalolo dropped a pass on just the second tackle of the game. Zane Musgrove spotted a half gap and ran at it full tilt, crashing over to score a soft try. Moses Mbye converted from almost in front.
In the ninth minute, Joey Leilua ran slightly angled towards touch, appearing to position his winger, however the defence held off him and he slipped between the two edge defenders to score a good try. Mbye's sideline conversion was perfect.
In the 15th minute, luck of the bounce fell the Tiger's way when a Harry Grant kick went low and ricocheted off the Cowboys defenders. The Tigers regathered and David Nofoaluma received an offload, drifted to the left and sent a beautiful long pass out to Mbye, who got outside his defender, busted out of a weak tackle, dummied to the winger before passing infield to Luke Brooks who ran away to score a good try. Mbye again converted.
The Wests Tigers scored again in the 23rd minute when Harry Grant scooped up the ball close to the Cowboys line, drew a defender and held up a nice ball for Josh Aloiai who scored next to the posts without being touched. Mbye added the extras.
In the 32nd minute the Tigers scored another very fortunate try when a cross-field kick was allowed to bounce as Michael Chee Kam and Esan Marsters chose to play each other and not pay attention to the ball. The ball bounced off Chee Kams foot and travelled into the Cowboys ingoal area where Mbye followed through to ground it for a try. Mbye was unable to convert his own try. After 36 minutes the Tigers lead 34-0.
Any hopes of the Tigers keeping the Cowboys scoreless where annihilated in an amazing 7 minute period after halftime, when North Queensland put on 3 tries to get themselves back into the game.
In the 53rd minute, with the Tigers on the attack, Scott Drinkwater took an intercept and ran 87 metres to score under the posts. Kyle Feldt converted.
Three minutes later Jake Clifford put a beautifully weighted chip kick to the right corner and Felt took a brilliant catch above his head to score. Feldt was unable to land the tough conversion.
Just two minutes later, the Cowboys were in again when Esan Marsters sent a stunning flick pass out to Feldt who dived down low and scored in the right corner again, despite Harry Grant kicking at the ball as he grounded it, which resulted in an 8 point try. Clifford missed the conversion but slotted the penalty goal from right in front.
In the 63rd minute Mbye kicked a penalty goal to give the Tigers a 20 point lead.
Both sides played attacking football, and the Tigers defence was holding strong despite having lost 3 players to injuries. However they did concede one last try with 2 minutes remaining in the game when a Clifford chip bounced perfectly for Esan Marsters, who juggled and regathered it to score out wide on the right side. Feldt was again unable to add the extras from the difficult angle.