Tigers 'less worse' than Cowboys by enough to snatch victory

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North Queensland Cowboys v Wests Tigers

The Wests Tigers have produced back-to-back victories for just the second time in 2021, with another uninspiring and unconvincing victory over a bottom 3 team, downing the Cowboys 24-16 in Townsville.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Luke Brooks, 15 metres from the Cowboys line, drifted left then stopped and dished a short ball to a barnstorming Stefano Utoikamanu, who destroyed the defensive line and scored to the left of the posts. Adam Doueihi converted.

Ten minutes later the Tigers extended their lead when they put the ball through the hands, before Moses Mbye sent a cut-out pass to Ken Maumalo, who had a narrow passage to the line, but he dived and nabbed the 4 pointer in the left corner. Doueihi converted superbly from touch.

The Cowboys finally got on the board in the dying stages of the first half through a very lucky try. Tom Dearden's poor bomb was allowed to bounce before Kyle Feldt soccered it back infield very skilfully. Reece Robson regathered and passed to debutant Griffin Neame who then threw a dubious pass to fellow debutant Jeremiah Nanai who scored. Valentine Holmes converted.

The second half began with 17 minutes of a mediocrity stalemate, with both sides struggling with ball control, discipline, last tackle options and worst of all general kicking.

But the deadlock was broken in the 57th minute when Brooks on the right hit Kelma Tuilagi with a lovely short ball, he then hit Holmes and spun 360 degrees before falling over the line near the posts to score a strong try. Doueihi again converted.

In the 65th minute the Tigers looked to lift a gear and seemingly put the game beyond the reach of a rather deflated looking Cowboys, when Doueihi stepped Ben Hampton, who had come a long way up and in, before sending Tommy Talau a good ball in space and he scored a soft try. Doueihi again added the extras. Tigers lead 24-6 with 13 minutes remaining.

With 7 minutes remaining in the game, Scott Drinkwater got a long ball to Jake Granville, exposing Michael Chee Kam who was way out of position defensively. Granville turned the ball back in to Drinkwater who ran away before sending Dearden away to score under the posts. Holmes converted.

With 4 minutes left in the game, the Cowboys very nearly scored but for a brilliant try saving tackle by Luke Brooks, who then produced an illegal strip after the tackle was completed which resulted in him being sin binned.

On the first play from the ensuing penalty, the Cowboys spread the ball from right to left where Hampton got comfortably outside David Nofoaluma and dived over to score in the corner. Holmes failed to convert his hurried conversion attempt.

With 22 seconds on the clock, the Cowboys received a penalty deep in the Tigers half. Holmes had a shot at penalty goal but it hit the upright and a scrappy game came to its end.