By Michelle Boon at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Mounties ended the Wests Tigers winning streak, coming from a near-impossible situation to claim a 30-26 win on the bell at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday.
Mounties front rower Kyle O’Donnell bagged the opening try after nine minutes, scoring near the posts, charging over from close range in traffic off a scrum set 10m out.
Halfback Mitch Cornish converted to lead 6-0.
Three minutes later Tigers second rower Dene Halatau went over out wide taking advantage of a defensive gap and five eighth Mitchell Moses converted to level the scores at 6 all.
Soon after Tigers second rower Jarred Farlow crossed out wide running smartly untouched through a gap down the right hand centres from a Michael Stevens pass.
Moses couldn’t convert and they led 10-6.
With 16 minutes to go, Farlow notched his double touching down on a great Stevens grubber kick and with Moses conversion the Tigers went into half time leading 16-6.
Halatau recorded his double seven minutes into the second half charging through a gap off a flat pass 15m out from Mounties line.
Moses didn’t convert, taking the score to 20-6.
Farlow secured his treble with 17 minutes to go, scoring under the posts unopposed off another neat Stevens pass and Moses conversion kept them rolling on at 26-6.
Six minutes later Mounties hooker Matt McIlwrick scored out wide slicing through a gap down the left hand centres.
With Cornish adding the extras the score now read 26-12.
Soon after Mounties front rower Mark Nicholls crossed out wide and Cornish was on target to narrow the lead to 26-18.
With four minutes to go Mounties replacement Reece Goldsmith went over out wide sneaking over from dummy half and Cornish remained perfect with the boot to give them a real chance at victory at 26-24.
In the final minute Mounties fullback Jack Ahearn broke every Tigers supporters hearts when he managed to find an overlap off a goal line dropout and cross out wide.
Cornish converted to complete the miracle comeback with four tries in 11 minutes and record an astonishing 30-26 victory at full time.
This Saturday Mounties will head to Belmore to take on the Bulldogs while the Tigers are at home once again, this time at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday when they host the ladder leading Panthers.
Mounties 30 (M McIlwrick, M Nicholls, K O'Donnell, R Goldsmith, J Ahearn tries; M Cornish 5 goals) def. Wests Tigers 26 (J Farlow 3, D Halatau 2 tries; M Cornish 3 goals) at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
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