Wests Tigers pile on the points to down Parramatta

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Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels

In front of a bumper 30,000+ Easter Monday crowd at ANZ Stadium, the Wests Tigers have accounted for the Parramatta Eels 30-20 to record their third win of the 2018 NRL season.

The Eels were first on the board with Will Smith plucking the ball from returning Wests Tigers fullback Tuimoala Lolohea. They looked fairly dominant until the Tigers capitalised on a 15th minute penalty for Robbie Rochow to strike back for the hosts.

Wests Tigers continued to pile on the pressure and sheer willpower saw Kevin Naiqama score his sides' second at the 25 minute mark, burrowing his way over in the corner. The 12-6 lead became 14-6 when Lolohea added a penalty goal, then a dubious try to Corey Thompson pushed the scoreline to 20-6 in the shadows of halftime.

Two more tries inside the first fifteen minutes of the second half put the result beyond any reasonable doubt - a 30-6 lead at the hour mark seemed insurmountable for Parramatta but that didn't stop them trying once they got their hands on the ball and didn't drop it.

Tries for George Jennings and Josh Hoffman cut the margin to fourteen points with nine remaining, Kirisome Auva'a making home fans nervous at 75 minutes with a try of his own.

A tough win for the Wests Tigers after having dominated the first hour, next week they have a "home game" across the Tasman when they face Melbourne in Auckland as part of a double header next Saturday, while the Eels are at home to Penrith back at the same venue, ANZ Stadium, next Sunday.