Both first grade sides, like most in the competition, were very happy just to get on the park, after the most disrupted preseason in memory saw both teams have just one fixture.

Taree started the better, controlling possession at the back but finding it difficult to penetrate with the Tigers pressing well.

Both sides had early sights on goal, but it was Taree who took the lead after 15 minutes, with a well placed free kick finding the head of Ricky Campbell at the back post, who made no mistake in heading home and taking full advantage of a marking mismatch.

The Tigers are a resilient side however and upped the pressure on Taree, with chances coming to Codey Chick and Jake Camilleri. 

It was another free kick however that saw the Tigers level the score, with an accurate delivery by Jake Bindon causing a goal mouth scramble, and Logan Wilkins (on first grade home debut) was sharp enough to tuck the ball away with 30 minutes gone.

Shortly after, Wilkins had a great chance to put the Tigers in front after a surging run but he put his shot too close to the Taree keeper.

Taree responded well, and the wide combination of Callum Griffis and McCabe Grass was causing trouble for the Tigers' right side defence.

Troy Chipperfield, who was excellent all day, made several crucial tackles to help keep the Wildcats out and see half time arrive with the scores level.

With little more than five minutes gone in the second half the Wildcats found themselves in front again, once more from a dead ball situation and once more taking advantage of some loose marking which allowed McCabe Grass to head home from close range.

Again the Tigers responded, with Taree digging in deep to try to keep the home side out.

Camilleri, Scarff and Chick were causing the visitors plenty of headaches with some great penetrating running, but the final product was either straight at the keeper, wide or high.

As the game wore on Taree began conceding more and more free kicks in the middle third, but fortunately for them the home side failed to capitalise, with most efforts being overhit.

Taree went a man down late on as well, with Lucas Mepham marched for swearing.

Time eventually ran down and the Wildcats ran out winners 2-1.

Logan Wilkins was players player for the Tigers, with Joey Newman second on the point score. Solid games were also had by Jason Ward, Pete Goonan and Callum Smith.

Special mention has to go to 15-year-old Rourke Banham, who made his senior reserve and first grade debuts on the one day, in the pressure position of goalkeeper. Banham commanded his area well and was very vocal in his direction of his defence.

Tigers' assistant coach Ron Schumann said: “Clearly we have to work on our marking but all things considered despite the loss there was a lot of positive signs.

“We really limited their scoring chances from open play, created a lot of our own, and with hopefully some dry weather we can get to work on our finishing at training."

Wildcats coach Rod Bartley was very happy to get away with all the points, but noted that he felt the Tigers "would be in the top two or three sides at the end of the season".

The Tigers reserves will be reflecting on this match as one that definitely got away after dominating the opening stages of the game but lacking a killer finish, only to concede on Taree's one meaningful attack in the first half with a back post tap in by Taree's Josh Douglas.

Outstanding play from players player Ben Chapman created some great scoring chances for the home side, all of which were put straight at the keeper or blazed over the bar.

Dylan Tooze had an outstanding match on senior debut in central defence, and the midfield pairing of David Rowe and Billy Newman directed play well.

The Tigers had a great chance to get something out of the game when Cassidy Veitch was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, but the Taree keeper guessed which way Tigers skipper Adam Christensen was going with his penalty and secured all three points for the Wildcats 1-0.

The coming week is a busy one for the Tigers, with a round two FFA cup clash against the free scoring Macleay Valley Rangers on Thursday night and then away to Port United in the league on Saturday.

The Tigers will welcome back skipper Mitch Minors as well as regular goalkeepers Curtis Jones and Clay Cooper, but then face the loss of some 15 players next Saturday with the fixture co-inciding with a music festival in Maitland.

"It's far from ideal," Tigers coach Jonathon Newman said

"But it's a great opportunity for some of young talented players to step up to senior level."