Match Details
Match Date	16th Mar, 2002
Opponent	Wests Tigers
Result	Loss 22-28
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Sydney Showground Homebush
Crowd	9,918
Referee	Tony Archer

Wests Tigers have pulled off the first upset of the season after surviving a late come back from the Bulldogs, winning 28-22 at the Sydney Showground.

Bulldogs centre Nigel Vagana came close to scoring an early try but the video referee denied the try but is wasn't long before Bulldogs back-rower Jamie Feeney scored from a beautiful kick from their fullback Luke Patten. In the 12 minute Wests Tigers scored their first points for 2002 by a Joel Caine penalty goal and at that stage the Bulldogs were on the top of the Tigers.

A 20 minute drinks break was introduced due the the 30 degree heat and it benefited the Wests Tigers who came close to scoring threw a John Wilson line break but was tackled over the sideline. It wasn't long after halfback Ben Jeffries made a break sending Ben Galea over to score the team's first try. Wests Tigers had a great chance shortly afterwards but Bulldogs halfback Darrell Trindall infringed with Hassan Saleh and he was sin-binned and Wests took the advantage shortly after with an extra man with captain Darren Senter scoring out wide just before halftime giving them a 14-6 over the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs made sure their were the first to score in the second half with big Willie Mason charging onto the ball and with Hazem El Masri successful kicking the conversion the Bulldogs were only 2 points behind. But Wests Tigers got the lead back out to 8 point led when Hassan Saleh beat a lazy Luke Patten to the ball to score. Joel Caine again added the extras with a kick from the sideline. Jamie Feeney almost scored his second but it was denied by the video referee after being over the dead-ball line. Centre Terry Hill made a 40-metre break that lead to Darren Senter scoring his second try which gave the Tigers a 24-12 lead with 18 minutes to go.

Two quick tries from Bulldogs pair Nigel Vagana and Luke Patten got the Bulldogs back into the match and they looked set to comeback and win the match. But the Tigers hit back with Saleh scoring his second try in the match and giving the Wests Tigers their first win over the Bulldogs with a 28-22 win.

Source: www.rleague.com

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