Match Report: Round 14 vs Raiders

The home side trailed 18-0 with fifteen minutes remaining before scoring three tries and a field goal in quick succession to take the lead.

The first try of the night was scored after a Jamal Fogarty grubber kick struck the upright and was grounded by the Raiders halfback.

Fonua Pole came close to levelling the scores following a line break from Jahream Bula, but the lock forward lost possession just metres from the line.

Junior Tupou then almost got over for his seventh try of the season, but couldn’t claim possession cleanly and evade the oncoming defence.

Instead, the Raiders claimed the only other try of the first half as an error from Jahream Bula landed in the grateful grasp of Jordan Rapana.

The second forty started in identical fashion to the first, with Jamal Fogarty finding the post and recollecting the ball to complete his second career double.

Raiders utility Tom Starling was sent to the sin bin with thirteen minutes remaining, opening the door for a potential late comeback from the home side.

Tommy Talau took immediate advantage, skipping across field and breaking numerous tackles before sending Jahream Bula through for the second try of his young career.

Luke Brooks then took off on a short side raid in the following set, breaking through the line and paving the way for John Bateman to cross the line.

Spurred on by the raucous Campbelltown crowd, Wests Tigers marched downfield once again with the ball finding its way into the hands of Brandon Wakeham on the final play.

The Fijian representative emulated the earlier success of Jamal Fogarty by placing a deft grubber kick in between defenders and recollecting the ball to level the scores.

Luke Brooks then made it nineteen unanswered points in ten minutes with a calmly-struck field goal that sent the Wests Tigers fans into raptures.

However, in one final twist, the Raiders were awarded a penalty in front of the posts in the final minutes after Isaiah Papali’i was deemed to have attacked the legs of Jamal Fogarty on a field goal attempt.

The Raiders halfback slotted the penalty goal from ten metres out, sealing a one-point victory for the visitors.

Wests Tigers will now turn their attention to their next match against the Gold Coast Titans on Thursday night.