Tigers' Thriller After Siren
Illawarra Mercury
Monday May 21, 2007
BATEMANS Bay escaped with a thrilling 34-32 win over Shellharbour in Saturday night's Group Seven confrontation at Mackay Park.
The Tigers were trailing 32-28 in the dying seconds before James Manton ran 25m from dummy-half to tie the score with a try next to the posts.Five-eighth Aaron Brieley calmly booted over the conversion after the full-time siren to seal victory for the home side. Manton's try iced a strong comeback after Shellharbour led 16-6 at half-time.The Sharks drew first blood with Aaron Carney's 13th-minute try before Ben Ralston crossed for the Tigers.Jared Semu put Josh Elliott away for a try early in the second half to trim the margin to 16-12 and a Brian Stephenson try tied the score at 16-all.With 20 minutes to play, Batemans Bay grabbed their first lead with Tuki Jackson's try and it was 28-16 after Brieley converted Elliott's second try.But just when Bay fans thought victory was in the bag, poor discipline set in and the Sharks peeled off three unanswered tries to hit the front.Shellharbour were moments away from a stirring road win before Manton saved the day for the Tigers and carried them to an important win.Josh and Steve Elliott and Stephenson and were the Bay's standouts, while Gary Breakspear, Phil Lopez and Adam McGrath shone for Shellharbour. Ladder: Park 14, Berry 8, Milton 8, Gerringong 8, Kiama 7, Warilla 6, Shellharbour 6, The Bay 6, Nowra 6.
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury
