StephenP
ArnoldRampant Tigers gun down Cowboys
July 30th 2007 11:03
The Wests Tigers have stormed back into premiership calculations registering a 54-10 annihilation of the North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval on Monday night.
On a night of celebrations at Leichhardt Oval, it was a dominant second half display from a highly energised Tigers outfit that saw them record a scintillating ten tries to two victory over a disappointing Cowboys outfit.
Wests signalled their intentions of playing an up tempo brand of attacking rugby league, with powerhouse backrower Taniela Tuiaki charging through four Cowboys defenders to open the scoring.
Playing his first game back from a cheekbone fracture, Tigers skipper Brett Hodgson missed from wide out to leave the home side up 4-0 after seven minutes.
North Queensland backrower Justin Smith did his best to imitate Tuiaki’s 7th minute effort, with the talented backrower bursting through three Tigers goalline defenders to level the scores.
The Tigers backline was beginning to cut swathes through the tiring Cowboys defenders, with Hodgson unleashing a beautiful inside ball to a flying John Morris to touch down under the posts.
Hodgson duly converted to push the Tigers out to a 10-4 lead after 25 minutes.
The Tigers were beginning to take control of proceedings, and it was a brilliant Robbie Farah grubber in the 35th minute allowing Hodgson to dot down for the Tigers third try of the night.
Hodgson again converted from right in front to send the Tigers to a 16-4 half time advantage.
The Tigers dominated possession early in the second half and were rewarded with a try to backrower Chris Heighington
With Hodgson hampered by a lower leg injury, Marshall converted from right in front to push the Tigers lead out to 22-4.
It was another breathtaking Tigers backline movement just three minutes later that extended the home side’s lead, with Wests centre Paul Whatuira flicking a magnificent offload to Farah, who raced forty metres before linking with zippy winger Daniel Fitzhenry to score.
Marshall’s second conversion handed the Tigers a dominant 28-4 lead.
The Cowboys bridged the gap in the 54th minute through a simple try to interchange forward Matthew Bartlett, with Thurston’s conversion making it 28-10.
Tries in the 58th, 66th, 70th, 72nd and 76th minutes completed the 54-10 thrashing, with the Cowboys season now in tatters thanks to a shoulder injury to halfback Johnathan Thurston.
Wests now travel to Carrara Stadium next Saturday night to take on the desperate Gold Coast Titans, while the Cowboys will play host to the Canberra Raiders at Dairy Farmers Stadium, also on Saturday night.
Wests Tigers 54
Tries: Bronson Harrison 2, Taniela Tuiaki, John Morris, Brett Hodgson, Chris Heighington, Daniel Fitzhenry, Robbie Farah, Ben Galea, Dene Halatau
Goals: Benji Marshall 4, Brett Hodgson 2, Robbie Farah
North QLD Cowboys 10
Tries: Justin Smith, Matthew Bartlett
Goals: Johnathan Thurston
At Leichhardt Oval
On a night of celebrations at Leichhardt Oval, it was a dominant second half display from a highly energised Tigers outfit that saw them record a scintillating ten tries to two victory over a disappointing Cowboys outfit.
Wests signalled their intentions of playing an up tempo brand of attacking rugby league, with powerhouse backrower Taniela Tuiaki charging through four Cowboys defenders to open the scoring.
North Queensland backrower Justin Smith did his best to imitate Tuiaki’s 7th minute effort, with the talented backrower bursting through three Tigers goalline defenders to level the scores.
The Tigers backline was beginning to cut swathes through the tiring Cowboys defenders, with Hodgson unleashing a beautiful inside ball to a flying John Morris to touch down under the posts.
Hodgson duly converted to push the Tigers out to a 10-4 lead after 25 minutes.
The Tigers were beginning to take control of proceedings, and it was a brilliant Robbie Farah grubber in the 35th minute allowing Hodgson to dot down for the Tigers third try of the night.
Hodgson again converted from right in front to send the Tigers to a 16-4 half time advantage.
The Tigers dominated possession early in the second half and were rewarded with a try to backrower Chris Heighington
With Hodgson hampered by a lower leg injury, Marshall converted from right in front to push the Tigers lead out to 22-4.
It was another breathtaking Tigers backline movement just three minutes later that extended the home side’s lead, with Wests centre Paul Whatuira flicking a magnificent offload to Farah, who raced forty metres before linking with zippy winger Daniel Fitzhenry to score.
Marshall’s second conversion handed the Tigers a dominant 28-4 lead.
The Cowboys bridged the gap in the 54th minute through a simple try to interchange forward Matthew Bartlett, with Thurston’s conversion making it 28-10.
Tries in the 58th, 66th, 70th, 72nd and 76th minutes completed the 54-10 thrashing, with the Cowboys season now in tatters thanks to a shoulder injury to halfback Johnathan Thurston.
Wests now travel to Carrara Stadium next Saturday night to take on the desperate Gold Coast Titans, while the Cowboys will play host to the Canberra Raiders at Dairy Farmers Stadium, also on Saturday night.
Wests Tigers 54
Tries: Bronson Harrison 2, Taniela Tuiaki, John Morris, Brett Hodgson, Chris Heighington, Daniel Fitzhenry, Robbie Farah, Ben Galea, Dene Halatau
Goals: Benji Marshall 4, Brett Hodgson 2, Robbie Farah
North QLD Cowboys 10
Tries: Justin Smith, Matthew Bartlett
Goals: Johnathan Thurston
At Leichhardt Oval
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