http://www.nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=25756
match report from nsw website
Tigers downed by Wolves
Balmain Media
17/05/2010 1:36:37 PM
The Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers are clinging to their position atop the NSW Cup competition table, after a heartbreaking loss to the Windsor Wolves 34-32 at Windsor Sporting Complex on Saturday.
The Tigers were first on the board after 8 minutes when front rower Eloni Vunakece crossed supporting a superb 30m break up the middle by hooker Ryan Carr. Fullback Sean Meaney converted to lead 6-0
Soon after their halfback Blake Lazarus was over out wide after Vunakece found himself in the thick of the action recovering a popped Windsor pass & the ball passed quickly through hands to Lazarus who sprinted through the line. Meaney’s conversion took the score to 12-0.
5 minutes later Tigers centre Brett Lane crossed out wide after five eighth Darren Nicholls put in a grubber that was spilled by Windsor & Lane was alert enough to regather & score. Meaney added the 2 points to extend their lead to 18-0.
With 17 minutes to go Windsor hooker Brad Clark scored under the posts some smart passing opened the Tigers up through the middle & Clark zipped over untouched. Five eighth Joseph Paulo converted to take the score to 18-6.
Soon after Nicholls crossed out wide showing great vision to spot a gap & take defenders over with him, with Meaney doing his bit to go ahead 24-6.
In the final 5 minutes before half time Wolves’ lock Nigel Plum barged over from close range off a penalty tap & centre Chevy Penehoe took advantage of good ballwork & short Tigers’ defence to score out wide to make a game of it at half time 24-18.
Early in the second half Wolves’ winger Sandor Earl touched down out wide taking a superb uncontested bomb, however Paulo’s conversion went wide & the lead was cut to 24-22.
Windsor bombed their next 2 try scoring opportunities which would have put them into the lead & the Tigers took advantage of this next time they were in Windsor territory as winger Lee Bennett swooped on a bouncing bomb 10m out from the line & scooted along the touchline to slide over. Meaney couldn’t convert & the score was 28-22.
With 19 minutes remaining Meaney grabbed a 4-pointer in the left hand corner following good leadup work from replacement Arana Taumata which allowed replacement Matt Ryan to work a short blind with Meaney. Again he failed to convert but they went further ahead 32-22.
Soon after Windsor replied with another barge-over try off a penalty close to the Tigers’ line & Paulo’s conversion closed it up to 32-28.
At this point high drama ensued at the ground with an electrical fault that resulted in a partial lighting failure at Windsor’s end of the ground, the ground announcer’s microphone shutting down & most critically, the scoreboard clock freezing with 16 minutes 47 seconds left in the game.
It was under these trying conditions that Windsor made their move & with 8 minutes left to play, sustained pressure on the Tigers’ line saw the defence finally crack & Windsor scored to level the game. Another successful Paulo conversion put the Wolves in front for the first time 34-32.
The Wolves held on from this point & eventually ran out winners 34-32.
This loss & the defeat of Newtown by the Bulldogs has tightened things at the top of the table with the Bulldogs now joint leaders & the Western Suburbs Magpies just 1 point behind. Next week’s match against the Bulldogs now takes on even more importance following the results from the weekend.
Next week the Tigers are back at home taking on the Canterbury Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday commencing at 3pm. This should prove to be a challenging match & one to look forward to.
