LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a thrilling Round 18 of the Jersey Flegg Cup, Wests Tigers triumphed 26-24 over the Canberra Raiders, thanks to Tino Tavana's last-minute try and conversion.
The match took place at Raiders Belconnen on Sunday afternoon.
The scoring opened with Malachi Smith for the Raiders, who seized on a grubber kick to give his team a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers quickly retaliated, with Tavana intercepting a pass and sprinting 70 meters for his first try.
The Raiders reclaimed the lead in the first half via Sylas Simon, but Mitch Taotua leveled the scores with a powerful solo effort before halftime, ending the half at 10-all.
The second half began with Simon scoring again for the Raiders, putting them ahead.
However, the Tigers responded with Solomone Saukuru muscling over the line in the 54th minute.
Luke Tuialii added another try for Canberra, extending their lead.
Tariq Tanner then scored, pushing the Raiders to a 24-16 advantage with just eight minutes remaining.
Determined, the Tigers fought back as Iverson Matai crossed the try line off a strong charge from Saukuru, keeping the game within reach.
As the match neared its conclusion, Tavana showcased his composure by scoring the decisive try and converting it, sealing a dramatic victory for Wests Tigers.