AFTER some weeks of indifferent form that saw them slide from first to fourth on the reserve grade table, the Tigers reserves showed some great signs that the early season swagger might be returning as they knocked the ball around well against the Barbarians reserves.
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From the first whistle the Tigers played some great, simple football with a rejigged back line of Brendan Aquilina, Cale McCarthy, Brock Gutherson and Jake Bindon controlling the play well, and keeping the Barbarians at bay.
This allowed the midfield of Harvey Kendall, Joey Newman and Jordan Fletcher to provide good service to the front three of Adam Christensen, Jake Stockdale and Matt McGarrigle.
It wasn’t long before the Tigers hit the front after some great passing freed Christensen into the right side of the box, where he seemingly shrugged off the attentions of the Old Bar defender to bury the opener. However as he tried to free himself from the defender who had wrapped his arms around his legs, he was adjudged by the referee and his assistant to have kneed his opponent in the head and was shown a straight red card. This was settled up shortly after when the same Old Bar defender, who had earlier been booked, was sent from the field for a second bookable offence. The Tigers stabilised the better, and went into the half time interval a goal to the good.
At halftime the Tigers were urged to increase their work rate, particularly in the middle of the park. Harvey Kendall had to limp off early in the half, which brought Nick Chapman into the fray and he made an immediate impact, scoring a great goal after some good lead up work down the Tigers left flank. From then on the Tigers controlled the game, with stand in keeper Tom Riley enjoying an easy time of things, but keeping solidly when required.
The game looked to be winding down to an uneventful close until a series of physical challenges which went unpunished by the referee culminated in a heavy shoulder charge on Paul Elliott, sending the youngster flying onto the rock-hard surface and breaking his arm. With only minutes left the game was called by the referee, seeing the Tigers run out winners 2 goals to nil. Brock Gutherson was a very deserving players player.
The Tigers reserves now shift their focus to the semi-finals, where they will take on fifth-placed Macleay Valley Rangers on Saturday.
The reserve grade competition has been very closely fought this season, with the top four teams separated by a solitary point and goal difference. Kempsey Saints should have finished as minor premiers but a team sheet error in the second last round of competition saw them docked three points, which saw Wallis Lake sneak in to the top spot courtesy of a better goal difference.