Wests Tigers women post strong win over Bulldogs
Wests Tigers Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side have put on a strong performance to claim their first win of the season with a 32-20 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Having begun the new season with a draw followed by a bye and a tight defeat to the top-of-the-table Central Coast Roosters, Neil Stanley's side were made to wait for their first victory of the season but proved too good in the end for the Bulldogs — running away with the game in wet conditions at Hammondville Oval.
The squad has consistently grown with a number of new faces in the side — debutants Patrica Raikadroka started at centre and Janelle Williams came off the bench in strong performances in their first Wests Tigers game.
Despite the Bulldogs kicking off the try-scoring for the match, Wests Tigers were determined to not slip behind with three tries in the opening half from familiar faces in Teagan Toa Toa, Sophie Curtain and Raecene McGregor.
Heading into the second half with a 16-4 lead, Wests Tigers soon put the game beyond doubt with Tia Cook scoring in the opening minutes and Filomina Hanisi going in again soon after. As fatigue started to set in, the home side fought back in the contest and cut Wests Tigers' lead to just six points before a late four-pointer to Emily Curtain ensured the visitors would walk away with a deserved two points.
Wests Tigers will now embark on a run of three straight home games to end the season — starting this Saturday against the Cronulla Sharks.
Wests Tigers 32 (Toa Toa, S. Curtain, E. Curtain, McGregor, Hanisi, Cook tries; Kara 4/6 goals) def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20 (Toomalatai, Ioane, Vella, Church tries; Weatherall 2/4 goals) at Hammondville Oval
LADDER AFTER ROUND 4
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | +/- | PTS | |
| 1 | Central Coast Roosters | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +62 | 8 |
| 2 | Cronulla Sharks | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +38 | 8 |
| 3 | Wests Tigers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 5 |
| 4 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -22 | 4 |
| 5 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -30 | 4 |
| 6 | North Sydney Bears | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 3 |
| 7 | Wentworthville Magpies | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -64 | 0 |
UPCOMING WESTS TIGERS GAMES
Round 5 — Wests Tigers vs. Sharks
Saturday, August 15, 2:30pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Round 6 — Wests Tigers vs. Magpies
Monday, August 24, 7:00pm at NSWRL Centre of Excellence
Round 7 — Wests Tigers vs. Rabbitohs
Sunday, August 30, 1:00pm at TG Milner Sports Ground
