Tigers leave it late to see off Raiders

Two late tries have helped seal a 18-8 win for the Wests Tigers over Canberra in an
exhilarating NRL clash at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
Josh McCrone's penalty 16 minutes from time had looked like it might be enough to
see the two points go back to the nation's capital after the Tigers spurned numerous
chances in the match.
However, tries in the last three minutes from Beau Ryan and Daniel Fitzhenry sent
the 19,428 home crowd into raptures as Tim Sheens' side secured a fourth successive
victory.
The Tigers, inspired by Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, were at times breathtaking
in attack, but were let down by some poor execution.
It wasn't all one-way traffic, with the Raiders creating plenty of chances of their
own, with Joel Thompson and Joel Monaghan both going close, only to be held up on
the line.
Former Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon lined up for his debut for the Tigers, who
also welcomed back Blake Ayshford and Keith Galloway after injury lay-offs.
Canberra trio Monaghan, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and David Shillington all backed up from
midweek State of Origin duty, but exciting young fullback Josh Dugan was ruled out
with a knee injury.
The Raiders got off to the worst possible start when Monaghan, booted the opening
kick-off out on the full to hand possession straight to the Tigers.
Boosted by that early gift, the Tigers took the lead with just three minutes on the
clock when Ryan darted over after Ayshford hauled in Farah's cut-out pass.
The home side continued to dominate, only to be let down by some poor handling with
Lote Tuqiri grassing the ball as he raced towards the try line.
Despite looking in control, the Tigers failed to make the advantage read on the
scoreboard and the Raiders edged their way back into the game when Monaghan atoned
for his earlier error to score his first try of the season in the 23rd minute.
Marshall stayed at the heart of the home side's attack and the Kiwi playmaker almost
produced a try out of nothing when he regathered his own grubber-kick, only to see
Chris Lawrence's intended pass for Tuqiri picked off by the retreating McCrone.
The opening stanza finished in exciting fashion when Farah took on the Raiders' line
and raced 60 metres, before being brought down just shy of the line.
However, Marshall spilled the ball, and Canberra raced down to the other end of the
field through Joel Thompson who was only prevented from scoring by Robert Lui, who
held him up as he tried to ground the ball.