After the conclusion of a thrilling 2014 VB NSW Cup season, we take a look back at the top ten thrilling finishes from the year. Coming in at number five is a last second escape by the Wests Tigers against Manly back in Round five.
A thrilling afternoon at Leichhardt Oval saw the Wests Tigers and Manly Sea Eagles go head-to-head in one of the most entertaining games of the season.
In a tense first half played in tricky conditions, the Sea Eagles claimed a slender 14-12 half-time scoreline when Jaydne Horo intercepted a Blake Ausitn pass to run the lenght of the field for a try.
The Tigers found themselves trainling by four points with only three minutes to go when Taqele Naiyaravaro went over in the left hand corner, earning him a treble and giving a deserving finish to a great opportunity created from winger Marika Koroibete after taking an intercept 10m out from his own line. Austin wasn’t able to put the icing on the cake but the scene was set for a thrilling finale with scores locked at 26-all.
It went right down to the wire as the Tigers had the last set of the match and found themselves in good field position as Austin took a field goal attempt 25m out with 3 seconds left on the clock, which presented no problems for the cool-headed five eighth, giving them a 27-26 victory in heart-stopping circumstances for the second week in succession.
Wests Tigers 27 (T Naiyaravoro 3, A Fine, J Farlow tries; B Austin 3 goals & field goal) def.Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 26 (J Horo 2, M Ikuvalu, C Gutherson, J Hasson tries; M Rudolph 3 goals) at Leichhardt Oval.
