Border Mail |
HOLBROOK claimed the four points but Rand-Walbundrie earned the plaudits after narrowly failing to cause the biggest boilover of the Hume league season at Holbrook on Saturday.
The Brookers were overwhelming favourites heading into the clash but were forced to dig deep in the final quarter to secure a 7.16 (58) to 8.4 (52) victory.
Daniel Athanitis’ unheralded Tigers line-up trailed by three points at the final change and kicked the first goal of the final quarter to raise hopes of claiming their biggest scalp of the season.
Holbrook took until the final five minutes to regain the lead and snatch a thrilling victory, which leaves the flag contender fifth with a 5-3 record at almost the halfway point of the season.
While proud of his young line-up, Athanitis said inaccurate kicking by the Brookers probably flattered the Tigers in the final wash-up.
“We played well but if they had of kicked straight it would have been a lot different story obviously,” Athanitis said.
“But to the boys’ credit we put a fair bit of pressure on which contributed to their wayward kicking.
“It was a fairly scrappy contest, but that’s the way we wanted the game to be played.”
Wagga Tigers recruit James Hodges was the only multiple goalkicker for the Brookers with two goals with coach Jarrod Twitt and Josh Jones among their best players.
Twitt was outstanding in the tense final-quarter to help drag his side over the line and finish the match with 30 plus touches.
Rand-Walbundrie boasts the competition’s youngest line-up with several youngsters showing promising signs in their first year of senior football after winning the thirds flag last season.
The Tigers have also been battling a crippling injury toll with Dean Gorman, Ben Schilg, Jordan Trethowan, Charlie Williams and Mark Kreutzberger missing matches this season.
Promising key defender Trethowan has undergone a knee reconstruction after going down against Howlong in round 5.
It was the Tigers’ young brigade of Patrick Star, Brian Lieschke and Aaron Gordon who were once again the standouts.
Star is a cousin of Morris medallist Craig Ednie and is showing promising signs.
“We have got a dozen blokes who have played less than 30 senior games,” Athanitis said.
“Patrick Star played thirds last year and has been outstanding for us this season at centre half-back.
“He has played on some of the league’s most dangerous forwards like Daniel McAlister and Shannon Terlich and has more than held his own.”
Lieschke was also a tower in defence and was outstanding in restricting Brooker spearhead James Breen to one goal.
The Tigers now play Culcairn, Walla and CDHBU to complete the first round.
In other Hume League matches, Luke McConnell, Mark Wilde and Kori Stevenson booted 15 goals as Howlong demolished Billabong Crows by 71 points.
Brock-Burrum coach Darryn McKimmie ran amok with six goals as the Saints beat Murray Magpies by 116 points.
