LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In the Jersey Flegg Cup Round 17 match, the Wests Tigers faced a tough defeat against the Roosters, ending the game at 28-22 on Saturday at Lidcombe Oval.
The Roosters kicked off their scoring midway through the first half with Ethan Roberts, who cut through a weak defensive line in the 16th minute.
Four minutes later, Jaxson Allen increased their lead to 12-4 after following crisp ball movement.
The Tigers fought back, with Iverson Matai executing a clever scrum play, setting up Nicholas for a try.
They continued to gain momentum, and in the 33rd minute, Naicori scored off a grubber from Matai, bringing the halftime score to 16-12 in favor of the Tigers.
The second half began strong for the Tigers, showcasing their best try in the 43rd minute.
A well-coordinated move led to Tino Tavana kicking the ball back inside for Logan Brookes to score, extending their lead to 22-12.
However, the Roosters responded with relentless pressure.
Josiah Fesolai barged over the line in the 49th minute, followed by Roberts scoring again, flipping the score to 24-22 with 23 minutes remaining.
In a tense final quarter of gameplay, both teams exchanged opportunities.
Ultimately, it was the Roosters who secured the win; Lachlan Dooner finished off a left-edge shift in the 64th minute, putting the Roosters ahead 28-22-a lead they held until the match concluded.