Border Mail |RAND-Walbundrie's finals aspirations are hanging by a thread after suffering its fourth loss of the season against Howlong at Howlong on Saturday.
With its finals credentials on the line the Tigers produced a spirited performance to lead by 13 points at the final change before the Spiders steadied to kick five goals to one and snatch a 10.11 (71) to 9.6 (60) victory.
After making the decider last year, the Tigers were once again widely touted as a flag contender this season but are looking more like pretenders by the week.
While handed a tough early season draw the Tigers have slumped to 12th on the ladder with a 1-4 record.
They are now faced with the monumental task of winning nine of its past 13 matches to snare an unlikely finals berth.
In contrast the Spiders have laid the foundations for a top-two finish to sit third with a 4-2 record after playing all of last year's finalists except CDHBU.
Spiders coach Joel Price said it was pleasing to get the job done despite playing far below their best.
"We probably didn't play our best footy and it took until the last quarter before we were able to dig deep and produce a decent quarter and get the job done," Price said.
"Early on they certainly put us under a fair bit of pressure and we knew they had come to play and were desperate for the four points to stay in touch with the top six.
"I put it on the players at the last change that if we are going to be considered serious contenders, these are the games we have to win.
"I thought the way we were able to respond in the last quarter was a super effort and a step in the right direction."
