The Tigers were beaten on the final hooter by a brilliant sideline conversion by Wellington’s Brayden Peachey but the signs are good ahead of the away match at Narromine on Sunday. 

The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the first minute hooker when Luke Matheson scored on the back of a stunning right side movement. Ryan Rogers converted easily.

Within seconds though, Justin Toomey-White’s big frame was spinning out of tackles to score and Lewis Stanley levelled the scores.

Stanley then set up the second Cowboys try, with Ken Everson wheeling onto a brilliant left side pass.

In the space of 12 minutes Nyngan fullback Byron Warren got on the end on a spectacular flowing movement from side to side as the Tigers rallied.

The match began to settle and only a decisive run by fullback Warren Peachey, wonderfully backed up by Kiyan Shaw, the real difference. Toomey-White scored his double just before the half-time spell to give Wellington a 22-10 lead.

The opening match of the season for the two sides was scrappy at times but full of entertainment and fullback Byron Warren was determined to get his side back into match running over for his second try.

With the score reading 22-16, Cowboys halfback Richard Peckham found space, allowing a bullocking Toomey-White to storm over for his hat-trick.

For a while the home side was powering until Damien Smith scored his second on the back of some spectacular footwork on the part of Nathan Matheson and all of a sudden it was the Tigers with a full head of steam 34-26.

The clock was running down and Wellington were faltering, but something clicked and Ethan Ryan scampered over to put Wellington within four points.

With one minute left on the clock and Nyngan attacking it looked all over for the Cowboys. Then the ball went down and so did Nyngan’s chances as Tjapaki Shaw made a sizzling run down the left-hand touchline to score.

It levelled the match and Brayden Peachey was left to attempt a victory which had just a moment ago seemed so far away. 

Peachey fired the winning points from the sideline to cap off a fantastic victory, 36-34.

The Tigers will now prepare to face the Jets at Narromine on Sunday.