Pollard double leads Wests Tigers to drought-breaking win

Wests Tigers held off a fast-finishing Dragons outfit to win 16-14 at Leichhardt Oval and break a 14-game losing streak in the NRLW.

The Tigers' last win came in Round 2 of the 2023 season against Cronulla but a double to winger Rebecca Pollard and the class of halfback Losana Lutu ensured the drought was broken.

On the back of a penalty against Dragons prop Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa for a high tackle, Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Pollard crossed in the right corner.

A mistake by Keele Browne just five metres out from her own line opened the door for Wests Tigers to go on the attack again and they scored straight from the scrum through powerful centre Leianne Tufuga.

Come the 31st minute and Pollard surged through some flimsy Dragons defence to make it a double and the home side went to the break ahead 14-0.

The Dragons had an early shot at points after half-time but Teagan Berry was held up over the line by some desperate Tigers defence.

Eight minutes into the second term the Red V opened their account when Pollard was unable to handle a Raecene McGregor bomb and Maatuleio Fotu-Moala picked up the scraps to score.

With the weight of possession in their favour the Dragons grabbed a second try in the 48th minute when Madison Mulhall powered over from close range and McGregor converted to make it 14-10.

The Dragons continued to mount pressure but the home side hung tough and when their opportunity came at the other end they stretched the lead to 16-10 through a penalty goal to Pauline Piliae-Rasabale.

With time running out the Dragons grabbed a late try when Mcgregor's classy long ball found Browne who put Fotu-Moala over in the corner but the captain could not land the difficult conversion from wide out and the Tigers prevailed 16-14.