St George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers
Finals Week One, 2011
ANZ Stadium
A second-half blitz saw the Wests Tigers reel in a six-point halftime deficit to run out convincing 21-12 winners in Week One of last year’s finals.
The Dragons played a near-faultless first 40 minutes, completing 16 of 18 sets with Mitch Rein and Jason Nightingale crossing before the tide turned and all the possession flowed the Tigers’ way. The gold-and-blacks drew level when Beau Ryan finished off a clever movement to cross in the corner after being handed the ball by Blake Ayshford as the centre was being shepherded into touch. The game was sealed when Robert Lui sent lock Chris Heighington over in the 66th minute.
The clash featured Benji Marshall’s incredible ‘dropped ball’ try, with Marshall nearly failing to make contact with a field-goal attempt in the fourth minute before regathering the ball as it rebounded off Dragons defender Beau Scott’s chest, then racing 33 metres to cross for one of the most bizarre tries of all time.
A second-half blitz saw the Wests Tigers reel in a six-point halftime deficit to run out convincing 21-12 winners in Week One of last year’s finals.
The Dragons played a near-faultless first 40 minutes, completing 16 of 18 sets with Mitch Rein and Jason Nightingale crossing before the tide turned and all the possession flowed the Tigers’ way. The gold-and-blacks drew level when Beau Ryan finished off a clever movement to cross in the corner after being handed the ball by Blake Ayshford as the centre was being shepherded into touch. The game was sealed when Robert Lui sent lock Chris Heighington over in the 66th minute.
The clash featured Benji Marshall’s incredible ‘dropped ball’ try, with Marshall nearly failing to make contact with a field-goal attempt in the fourth minute before regathering the ball as it rebounded off Dragons defender Beau Scott’s chest, then racing 33 metres to cross for one of the most bizarre tries of all time.
