After such a successful Round 2 in TIGERTOWN, we got to do it all again in Round 3, with all Saturday teams at home. On Saturday we welcomed; De La Salle, Gymea Gorillas, Bosco Bulldogs, Menai Roosters and Aquinas Colts to Chad Townsend Oval and we were treated to another pulsating round of junior football-except when the O'35's hit the field. We were pleased to see so many supporters at the ground despite the weather and the Tigers certainly put on a show in another memorable weekend.
Tigers U6 Blue 60 Gymea Gorillas 56
Both teams agreed to play eight against eight so the substitutes didn't have to sit in the rain. This made for an entertaining game with both teams evenly matched. There was plenty to like about the Tigers performance, with Caden MacPherson, Conor Lehane and Zach Jansson making important tackles all across the park. Ethan Welfare, Ollie Trevillian and Kingston Taylor always looking for the ball and making strong runs and Daniel Crawford and Logan Jones linking play and plugging gaps whenever the Gorillas attacked. The most pleasing aspect of the Tigers play, is the fact that they play together with all players supporting each other in defence and attack. There is a real spirit amngst the team and every Tiger is playing with a smile and hungry to get involved. Tries were shared across four players this week with Kingston Taylor top scoring with 5 tries, Ollie Trevillian scored 4 and Conor Lehane and Logan Jones bagged 3 apiece.
Tigers U7 Blue 32 De La Salle 52
The U7's were up against another big team this week and went three tries behind early on. However, something clicked within the Tigers and they started to take on the bigger De La Salle team and soon levelled through tries from Jake McMillan (2) and Jaxon Good. You could see the confidence surge through the Tigers players and they started to attack De La Salle and troubled them with their determination and finesse. Jaxon Good worried them with his speed, Layken Koprivic and Hendrix Austin were clever with the ball and always managed to find gaps and Joshua Dart and Robert Couley were solid when tackling. Daniel Romyn and Jake McMillan were difficult to stop when running with the ball and as a team the Tigers were beginning to trouble De La Salle. In the end De La Salle had just a bit more class than the Tigers and ran out winners by 20 points. Try scorers this week were Jake McMillan with 4, Robert Couley with 2 and Hendrix Austin and Jaxon Good with 1 apiece.
Tigers U8 Blue 34 Bosco Bulldogs 42
The Tigers welcomed back Hendrix Crawley to the team and his scoring ability will be a real asset to the Tigers for the remainder of the season. In an even game the Tigers were looking to build on last weeks winning performance but they met a Bulldogs team that was quick and physical and never gave up. Kade Jones got the Tigers on the board with a bullocking run down the left wing and then Ray Logie scored a fantastic individual try stepping through the Bulldogs defence. Oscar Nichols and Arlo Gibbons pace troubled the Bulldogs and Hendrix Malaki and Joey Jones Rodriguez were tackling everything in a blue and white shirt. Sonny Tricker and Sonny Faughey were always looking for work and Jack Jones made some good runs. The Bulldogs always had their noses in front and scored at crucial times. Kade Jones and Ray Logie scored 2 tries each and Oscar Nicholls, Hendrix Malaki and Sonny Tricker scored 1 each. Despite the result, this was another impressive performance by the U8's and now that they have a more settled team, we should see more improvement over the season.
Tigers U9 Blue 6 De La Salle 60
An out of sorts U9's suffered a heavy defeat against an impressive De La Salle team. The Tigers hardly had any ball throughout the game and when they did, they gave it back quickly through handling errors. Despite the result there was still plenty to like from the Tigers with Zach May, Archer Brassington and Aston Gibbons looking dangerous with their pace, Geordan Fairbairn-Raco and Hayden Walker worrying De La Salle with their size and ball skills. Charlotte Dart and Malachi Kane shoring up the middle with strong tackles and bags of energy and Max Carlson and Hudson Palmervale providing important support in attack and defence. Hayden Walker scored the only try for the Tigers with a crash play close to the line. The Tigers can put this result behind them and go again next week and get the win they deserve.
Tigers U13 Bronze 10 Menai Roosters 28
This game kicked off in worsening conditions with the rain falling heavily. The Tigers went behind early through the Roosters danger man Nico Golik but the Tigers own danger man Lewis Amesbury made a great run and set up Jensen Bunyan to score in the corner. This lifted the Tigers and they had a period of good possession and remained camped on the Roosters goal line. On the third consecutive set the Tigers set up a crash play and Lucius Viteri got over the line and put the Tigers out to a 10-6 half time lead. The Tigers were harrying the Roosters at every opportunity and had the competition favourites worried with their tackling and ability to create space out wide. In the second half the Roosters lifted and scored a quick try to get the scores level. The Roosters continued to apply pressure to the Tigers and most of the second half was played near the Tigers try line. The Roosters manged to put on a further two tries despite some admirable defence from the Tigers and eventually ran out 28-10 winners. This was an encouraging performance from the Tigers who showed they could mix it with the favourites.
Tigers U13 Silver 28 Aquinas Colts 10
This game had a tight opening with most of the play happening on either side of the half-way line. A great run buy Hudson Wilcox, gave Mason De Luca an opportunity to run at the Colts defence with speed before getting an offload to Zac Porter to score close to the posts. Soon after Zac Porter scored again with a fantastic solo effort down the right wing, shrugging off defenders before scoring under the posts. Hudson Wilcox then scored the Tigers third with more good play down the left wing and the Tigers were in the ascendancy with an 18-0 lead. Towards the end of the first half the Colts worked themselves back into the contest and were looking dangerous and the Tigers would have to work hard to reassert their early dominance. In the second half both teams went try for try with the Colts scoring first to get on the board and then Zac Porter scored his third before the Colts scored again to get the score to 22-10. The Colts were playing with confidence and had the Tigers concerned, but some enterprising play from the Tigers working the ball from one side of the field to another, before a clever kick from Levi Dawson saw the ball sit up nicely for Zac Porter, who collected in one move and score to give the Tigers a 28-10 lead. This was another impressive team performance by the Tigers and Zac Porter has now scored four tries in consecutive weeks.
Tigers U16 Silver Como Crocs Playing Sunday
Tigers O35 Silver 6 De La Salle 40
An out of sorts Tigers team came up against a red hot De La Salle team and were well beaten in the end. De La Salle appeared to have more pace in the middle and had obviously played together for some years, as they found gaps in the Tigers defence at will. It was hard to find a reason for the Tigers display, maybe it was the damp conditions causing stiffness in the Tigers arthritic joints or only playing half a game the week before, leaving them underdone this week, or even the De La Salle purple tags that were hard to pick up in the gloomy conditions, but it was clear they were off their game and De La Salle took full advantage.
Despite the rainy conditions it was another special day in TIGERTOWN. The U6's and U13 Silver teams were the only winners on the day but there was plenty to like about the U7, U8 and U13 Bronze teams performances. Zac Porter from the U13 Silver and Lewis Amesbury from the U13 Bronze made standout performances for their teams and we thank the the Gorillas, De La Salle, Bulldogs, Roosters and Colts for a great day and we wish all teams the best for the remainder of the season.
We would also like to thank everyone who helped with set-up, pack-up, the canteen and BBQ today. Conditions were testing but the number of people who were available to lend a hand made the day easier to organise. A special shout-out to Adam Burke who did a brilliant job setting up the pitches-Great job Adam.
The Tigers are proudly sponsored by Kore Property Group, Quality Health Care, On Top Constructions. Sound Plumbing, Shire Garage Doors, E&S Electrical Wholesalers, Pizza League, Sutherland Shire Trophies, Dad and Dave's Tree Services and Underground Civil Supplies. Please show your support for the local businesses that support your club.
