Unlucky break as Knights suffer Marshall’s magic
April 27th 2009 01:26
Although the Wests Tigers victory against the Melbourne Storm last week was based heavenly on their defence, it was their attacking display against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday that allowed them to run down a 14 point deficit and steal a season defining win.
The Tigers picked up where they left off against the Storm yesterday afternoon, making valuable metres up the middle of the park early on, courtesy of great go forward by Keith Galloway.
Indeed the confidence from their defensive effort last Monday night allowed the Tigers to flex their hand in attack in stunning fashion.
Dean Collis scored the first try of the afternoon for the Tigers, thanks to a Marshall chip kick that was battered back by winger Beau Ryan - a play that effectively sums up why they are the most exciting unit to watch in the NRL.
With the ball in hand, the Tigers dominated territory early in a game where possession was always going to be critical to either team’s chances.
The knights eventually got enough football to display their attacking vertigo in front of the Campbelltown faithful, and it proved costly for the Tigers.
Matt Hilder scored a good try on the back of neat passing by Kurt Gidley and Isaac De Gois to level the scores.
After a Marshall kick off went out on the full, Newcastle again demonstrated their attacking potency to allow Chris Houston to score off a perfected placed cross field bomb by Ben Rogers.
As Brian Smith’s men hit the front, the Tigers once again found themselves in a void that often sees them commit uncharacteristic errors and concede stupid penalties.
Knights prop Danny Wicks stomped the Tigers further into the ground, scoring a great try under the posts, after catching Jarred Mullen’s accurate bomb.
Newcastle effectively had the match under control heading into halftime, with key players Mullen, Gidley and De Gois all causing havoc in the middle of the ruck.
Indeed halftime could not have come at a worst time for Newcastle, considering they had the Tigers at their mercy courtesy of penetrating running on the edges by Zeb Taia and James McManus.
The break ended up being a critical one for the Tigers, as their second forty minutes would suggest.
With a rejuvenated Benji Marshall on their side, the Tigers ended up scoring three tries to one in the second half to record a memorable win against a gallant Knights outfit.
Marshall’s efforts, following a disastrous first stanza, allowed the Tigers to claw their way back from a 14 point deficit and steal the two competition points.
Indeed Beau Ryan’s try in the 62nd minute was a work of art only made possible by the multimillion dollar skills of the Kiwi international.
It was only fitting then to see Marshall convert from the sideline with five minutes remaining, to register a 26-24 victory that really looked forlorn at halftime.
It goes to show what a fifteen minute break can do to a team’s fortunes. Unfortunately for Newcastle, it was a time out that cost them dearly.
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