Tigers stay alive with big win

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St George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers

The Wests Tigers have kept their top eight hopes alive by accounting for the St George Illawarra Dragons 42-14 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon.

Scoring seven tries to two in a match played before a crowd of 9,136 supporters, the win sets up a final round clash for the joint venture against Cronulla at Leichardt Oval - with the winner to secure a place in the finals.

Opening the scoring following a long-range Luke Brooks break, Tigers centre Paul Momirovski (4th minute) gave the visitors the perfect start with a converted try in the right corner.

Responding through Euan Aitken (15th minute), the Dragons took an 8-6 lead via a Gareth Widdop penalty after Tristan Sailor lost possession while grounding.

Going close to extending their lead only for James Graham to knock on in the act of scoring, the Dragons were made to pay for failing to capitalise on their opportunities with Luke Garner (29th minute) diving on a well-timed Brooks grubber to put the Tigers up 12-8 at the change of ends.

Coming out of the sheds intent on keeping their season alive, Momirovski (43rd minute) produced a length of the field intercept to collect his second four-pointer of the afternoon.

Hitting back immediately after Corey Thompson failed to lock up a towering Ben Hunt kick on his goal line, Widdop (47th minute) was on the spot to touch down for his first try of the season.

Striking a major blow on the stroke of the hour, Momirovski (58th minute) crossed for his first career hat-trick to give the Tigers a 24-14 lead.

Delivering the knockout blow through a solo piece of brilliance from Benji Marshall (70th minute), Brooks (74th minute) and Elijah Taylor (78th minute) capped off a memorable afternoon with late tries to give the Tigers an emphatic 42-14 victory.

Next week, the Dragons take on the last-placed Titans on Saturday evening at CBUS Super Stadium, while the Tigers host the Sharks at Leichardt Oval on Sunday afternoon for a place in the finals.