After a long and frustrating pre-season, we finally got underway this weekend after a delayed start to the season. The opening day is always exciting and all Tigers teams were keen to play some footy after all the rain. It was wet, overcast and heavy underfoot but footy was back and despite the rain everyone was happy. Thanks to the Pirates and Joeys for hosting us today, you did an amazing job and we appreciate you making your grounds available so we could get the season underway.
We had 22 players making their debut for the Tigers this weekend and we hope they all enjoyed the experience, the players making their debut are listed below:
U6: Conor Lehane, Logan Jones, Jaxon Hunt, Hendrix Austin, Daniel Romyn, Robert Couley, Zachary Jansson, Finley Jones, Kingston Taylor and Matthew Alison
U7: Hendrix Malaki, Ryan Geaney, Harrison Payn, Caleb Dawson and Jack Jones
U8: Max Carlson and Joey Jones-Rodriguez
U12's: Liam Good, Lucius Viteri and Patrick Graham
U15's: Flynn Impey, Kad Bergman and Will Price
Although all teams were short of match practice and hardly any training has been completed, it didn’t make a difference as all games were exciting, skillful and played in a great spirit. We couldn’t be more proud of our teams this weekend and please enjoy the reports and photos below.
U7 Green Tigers 52 Roosters 56
This game had everything, a nail-biting finish, great skill and incredible endeavor. It was a real slugfest in the wet with both teams going at each from the first minute, scoring try after try and tackling each other into the ground.
The Roosters were ahead 12-8 after the first quarter with Caleb Dawson opening the scoring for the Tigers on debut. It was an open game with both teams getting used to the conditions as well as playing footy again.
The second quarter was even more open with both teams going all out attack. Both teams scored at will with some enterprise play being shown by both teams. Arlo Gibbons scored a memorable try jinking his way through the Roosters defence before scoring in the corner and Caleb added to his first quarter try with a length of the field run outpacing the Roosters to score under the post. Harrison Payn also got on the score sheet with a great individual try to level up the scores but the Roosters got on top at the end of the quarter and we’re ahead 28-20 at half time.
The third quarter was played in the same way as the second with both teams scoring on each play. The Tigers scored a couple of quick try’s to get the scores even and the Roosters always looked dangerous in attack. At three quarter time the Roosters were one try ahead 40-36. The final quarter saw some desperate goal line tackles and some great individual skills. I’m the final minute the scores were locked at 52 apiece with to Tigers on the attack. A great tackle by the Rooster saw the Tigers spill the ball and a couple of quick passes to the left enabled the Roosters to score in the corner to get a 56-52 win.
Player of the Game: Caleb Dawson
Tigers Spirit Award: Not Awarded
U8 Green Tigers 4 Dragons 38
Score lines can be deceiving and this was the case for the U8's. The team started well but were unable to find any cohesion in the first quarter. The new rules played their part in this and the fact that training has been limited, so the players were struggling to find their role and position within the team. Despite this, the Tigers did take an early lead with Aston Gibbons scoring and then converting his own try to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead. Both teams were feeling each other out initially before the game opened up and the Dragons put on two quick tries to take an 8-6 lead.
The Dragons opened the scoring in the second quarter and converted to take a 14-6 lead. The Tigers started to play with some confidence but the Dragons scored again to go 18-6 ahead which was also the half time score.
In the second half the Tigers were more competitive with Joey Jones-Rodriguez making tackle after tackle, Charlotte Dart looking dangerous around the edges and Hudson Palmervale troubling the Dragons defence whenever he got the ball. Although the Tigers threatened they were unable to cross the try line and the Dragons scored an additional two tries in the third quarter and then three more in the fourth quarter.
A couple of training sessions will benefit the U8's and we look forward to seeing their progress next week against De La Salle.
Player of the Game: Hudson Palmervale
Tigers Spirit Award: Joey Jones-Rodriguez
U12 Bronze Tigers 16 De La Salle 14
In a scrappy first half with both teams searching for some rhythm De La Salle scored off their first set to take a 6-0 lead in the first 3 mins De La Salle went further in front to take a 10-0 lead and the Tigers had nothing to show for their early good work. Then after more pressure from the Tigers and a good break from Max Cooper, the ball made its way to Bede Staniforth, who got the Tigers on the board with his first run in league to get the scores back to 10-4.
The Tigers were showing some good spirit with William Janssen and Jake Dooley making good metres and Lewis Amesbury always looking dangerous with ball in hand. Unfortunately, all this good work did not trouble the scoreboard and De La Salle scored late to take a 14-4 lead into the half-time break.
The Tigers showed more urgency in the second half and started to show more cohesion and adventure in their attacking play. This early pressure resulted in Leo Giovenco crossing close to the posts to get the Tigers back to 14-10. The Tigers tails were up now and after another period of sustained pressure they scored a brilliant length of the field try to take a 16-14 lead. Some good interplay between Levi Dawson and Bailey Mason saw the ball worked out wide to Bede Staniforth who showed great skill, power and pace to shrug off defenders and score close to the posts.
This was a great come from behind win for the Tigers and the team showed real desire and patience to get over the top of a good De La Salle team.
Player of the Game: Levi Dawson
U12 Silver Tigers 12 Dragons 14
This game was a real arm struggle against two strong teams. The Dragons took an early lead with a length of the field try under the posts to take a 6-0 lead before the game became a wrestle with both teams having some good moments and then making unforced errors and losing momentum. The Tigers got on the board after a series of fouls by the Dragons giving the Tigers one set after another. This sustained period of pressure finally paid dividends with Hudson Wilcox scoring in the corner to get the score back to 6-4 at half-time
The second half started like the first, with some good pressure from both teams followed by handling errors. The Dragons scored with a quick break down the right wing to take a 10-4 lead and then they defended well in the middle of the field before making a break on the left wing to score in the corner and go out to a 14-4 lead.
This stung the Tigers up and they started to show some real urgency and get on a roll. After some some good sets, Bede Staniforth made an impressive break and looked sure to score in the corner. As he tried to palm off a defender he lost control of the ball over the try line and The Dragons breathed a sigh of relief. In the next play the Dragons made an error trying to advance the ball, allowing Ethan Coleman to gather the ball and score near to the corner and get the scores back to 14-12 with a conversion to come. Etah decided to take the responsibility himself but unfortunately his kick fell short, giving the Dragons victory.
This was a close game and the Tigers showed enough to take some confidence into next week.
Player of the Game: Ethan Coleman
U15 Silver Tigers 8 Joeys 14
Sunny conditions greeted the U15's in their first game of 2022 and they kicked off towards the golf course end to get us underway. Some early pressure had Joeys camped on their try line before the Tigers spilled the ball to ley Joeys off the hook.
Kade Bergman started strongly with some great tackles and constantly pressuring the opposition. Alex Mantik also started strongly troubling the defence at every opportunity. The Tigers were showing great patience early on, getting through their sets and kicking for field position. This early patience paid off and some great work out of dummy half saw Kade Bergman throw 2-3 dummies before diving over to score and put the Tigers 4-0 ahead. The lead was short lived and Joeys had a good set from the kick off and worked the ball nicely on the left to score in the corner and bring the scores level.
Some good sets from both teams saw the game played in the middle of the park with few errors and even less chances. Towards the end of the half the Joeys started to apply pressure and a missed intercept by Tommy Robinson gave the ball to the Joeys forwards in an advanced position and they managed to work it between hands to get over the line to go 8-4 ahead at half time.
The Tigers started strongly and managed to get a reset with a great kick from Jai McEwen to lock Joeys in the end goal. A couple of passes got the Tigers on the try line before swinging it to the right for Luke Fenton to score and get the score back to 8-8.
Both teams had good moments before the Tigers forced an error in good field position before dropping the ball and putting Joeys back on the attack. The Tigers continued to press but were unable to take advantage of the weight of possession. Understandably, the heat and the lack of preparation started to take their toll and the Tigers began to cough up the ball at crucial moments.
The Tigers lost four players to injury during the game and this gave Joeys some momentum and they started to make easy metres through the Tigers defence. This pressure finally paid off and Joeys scored in the right hand corner in the final minutes to take a 14-8 lead. The Tigers were unable to score again and lost a tight game 14-8.
Despite the loss, there were a lot of positives for the Tigers, Blake Burke carried on his good form from 2021 as did Albie Lamaro. Alex Moussa was a constant threat and there were strong performances by the debutants Kade Bergman, Flynn Impey and Will Price. Although any defeat is disappointing, the Tigers can build on this performance and go into the season with some confidence.
Player of the Game: Kade Bergman
U18 Merged Tigers/Crocs 18 Renown 26
The merged U18 team played a very strong Renown team in their opening game and it was very much a tale of two halves. Renown started strongly and went out to what looked like an unassailable lead. However the Tigers came out strongly in the second half and started scoring tries and picking off the Renown lead. Unfortunately, the gap was just too big to make up with Renown running out winners 26-18.
This weekends games were brought to you with the help of our generous sponsors.
