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The Sydney Roosters survived an early Benji Marshall masterclass and a massive change of personnel to score a 28-24 win over Wests Tigers in the Foundation Cup NRL trial at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday night.
The Tigers cruised to an 18-6 lead in the second quarter but from there were outscored 22-6 on the run into fulltime.
The Roosters scored five tries to four and exposed some deficiencies in the defence of the Tigers, who have been installed as the early NRL favourites.
Tigers winger Beau Ryan stood out in a losing team, scoring a classy hat-trick.
Roosters coach Brian Smith opted against fielding his listed team for the first quarter, instead sending out close to a reserve grade line-up.
Early on in the match, Marshall threatened to take complete control of proceedings.
The mercurial New Zealander set up the Tigers’ first three tries, including one for highly touted young fullback James Tedesco inside the first 70 seconds.
Tedesco claimed a pinpoint Marshall bomb and Ryan capitalised on two perfect cut-out passes from the five-eighth.
Marshall was also involved in the build-up to Ryan’s third try, passing to Blake Ayshford, who put his winger over.
The Roosters charged back into the game late in the second quarter with tries to Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce to trail by just two at halftime.
Ryan’s hat-trick try and Marshall’s fourth conversion from as many attempts put the Tigers up 24-16 early in the third quarter.
Converted tries to Mose Masoe and Daniel Mortimer either side of the final quarter break enabled the Roosters to sneak ahead on the scoreboard.
New recruit Mortimer put in a solid shift at five eighth and backed up his try with four goals from five attempts.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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The Crowd Says (3) | Page 1 of Comments
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February 19th 2012 @ 11:55am
Bearfax said | February 19th 2012 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Wonder how these two teams fortunes will look around September. I suspect he who has come last today will come first and he who has come first….well you know the rest.
February 19th 2012 @ 3:42pm
Lancey5times said | February 19th 2012 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Wow. We get more respect when we lose
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February 21st 2012 @ 8:47am
Paul said | February 21st 2012 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Trial Form means nothing i know but after last year at least a good showing against the tigers suggest we may have a competitive team this season. Go the Roosters