The Wests Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak with an 18-12 win over a disappointing Newtown Jets team yesterday.
In a low scoring affair the Jets scored first through Matt Evans to open up a 6-0 lead, gave up that advantage as the Tigers leveled and went in front again when Sharks NYC centre Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga crashed over.
A penalty goal pushed the lead out to 12-6 but that would be as good as it got for the Newtown side, with the bottom-placed Tigers fighting back.
A Tigers converted try in the 60th minute leveled scores, before another four-pointer and the subsequent conversion in the final 10-minutes put them in front for the first time in the match.
The Jets tried hard to erase the Tigers lead, twice being held up over the line in the dying moments, the first time when Edrick Lee couldn’t get the ball down, the second when James Tuitahi was denied by desperate defense.
Making matters worse for the Newtown team on the day was a serious arm injury suffered by extremely capable outside back Matt Evans.
The loss sees the Jets drop out of the top eight with their next assignment a difficult one up against Intrust Super Premiership leaders the Wyong Roos next Saturday on a match to be played at Central Coast Stadium.
Wests Tigers 18
W Heleta, N Milone, J Williams tries; V Mapesone 3 goals
def
Newtown Jets 12
Matt Evans, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga tries; Matt Evans 1 goal, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga goals
