After last weeks poor performance it was pleasing to see a committed Tigers side match the bigger Rhinos in the early exchanges.

Damien Kennedy and Rob Burn settled into the match well providing good ball for the forwards.

A deft kick by Burn 5 minutes into the match saw Nathan Smith stroll over in the corner, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful making the score 4 – 0 to the Tigers.

Manildra hit back soon after on the back of some solid forward charges and bone crunching defence and in a short space of time put on 2 tries only 1 of which was converted.

With the smaller Tigers pack struggling to contain their bigger counterparts, the Tigers started to send the ball to the edges with Damien Kennedy laying on some good passes to new centre Michael Swan.

It was a strong burst from Swan that took the Tigers into Manildra territory to enable Rob Burn to jink his way through the Rhinos defence and score a fine try.

His conversion attempt was unsuccessful, Rhinos 16 Tigers 10. With the Manildra defence in the Tigers faces almost before the ball reached the first receivers, some uncharacteristic errors started to creep into the Tigers play. Instead of dropping their bundle the Tigers pack continued to tough it out with Phil Kelly, Wayne McFawn and Andrew Pull really standing up to the Rhinos.

The half time hooter was a welcome sound for the Tigers and gave them a chance to regroup.

Although the Tigers tried hard it was all Manildra in the first minutes of the second half.

The Rhinos racking up three converted tries to skip away and seemingly put the game out of reach of the gallant Tigers.

A Manildra error from the restart gave Rob Burn the opportunity to score his second try which he converted to give the Tigers a glimmer of hope.

However, a penalty against the Tigers whilst in possession saw Manildra score again.

Although frustrated and seemingly out of the game, the Tigers never gave up.