Tigers clip Hawks wings on Reunion Day

The Annual Reunion Day was theme yesterday at the Den with the Tigers taking on traditional rivals the Sandgate Hawks. The Tigers heroes from the 2015 Seniors and Reserves, 1975 Reserves and Banyo Bloods Premiership teams were the focus of the Reunion this year and they were enthralled with the current Tigers.

The Tigers repeated their round one effort against the Hawks with a seven goal blitz in the first quarter leaving their opponents goalless in a comprehensive effort despite constant heavy rain. The Tigers recorded fourteen scoring shots for the term so the result at the first break could have been more harsh had they kicked more accurately.

Zac Quin kicked the Tigers day off with the first goal with his spearhead partner Ryan Doolan soon into the action. The dynamic energy of Eddie Mallan in the forward half added the pressure to have the ball constantly in the scoring zone for his team mates to capitalize at will. It was three to Doolan, two to Quin and two to Mallan by the end of the first term.

Despite the Tigers once again going into the game lacking a full time ruckman, it was no impediment to the team with Zac McLean stepping up along with Ben Wilkinson who both battled one of the biggest ruckman in the league. At ground level the Tigers went to work from the beginning with Beau Harris doing what he does best swooping on his opportunities to get clearance or putting incredible tackling pressure on his opponent to create a turnover.

The Tigers most capped Club Champion Jack Collings showed he is evergreen yesterday revelling in the rain and mud accumulating the hard in and under ball while Zac Puncken was clean by hand and foot once again as he shows his class in any conditions.

Despite the Tiger onslaught, the Sandgate Hawks were brave and never showed any sign of giving up. Former Tiger Josh Westerberg kicked the first goal of the second term to get the Hawks on the board while another old Tiger in Benn McElligott was doing his best to get his team up and going. McElligott had plenty to play for as one of the Tigers 2015 Premiership team and he wanted his Hawks to make the best showing they could in the new competition. Hawks youngster Lucian Andonov was impressive with his marking and looks like a handy find for the bayside club.

While the Hawks slowed the scoring in the second term and to some degree matched the Tigers, they were down by eight goals at the main break. The Hawks brought the Tigers defence into the game in the second term with Kyle Henry working hard. The Tigers young back six have been very impressive this year as they get to know each other. James Stolz leads the group each week with Hayden Rainbow, Mitch Bruce and Aidan Williams along with Digby Morison working effectively. They were composed all day in the difficult conditions and played a major role in the result.

The Tigers continued on their way in the second half to accumulate a big margin to win comprehensively on a day they always want to play well.

In the end Ryan Doolan and Zac Quin had another day out kicking twelve between them while Zac McLean put in a herculean effort to be in the Tigers’ best.

The Tigers have another bye next week and then play the Moreton Bay Lions at the Den next.

Scores: Mayne 19.16.130 d Sandgate 4.4.28

Goals:  R Doolan 7, Z Quin 5, E Mallan 2, C Barber, B Wilkinson, N Galvin,

Z McLean, L Quin 1.

Best: R Doolan, Z McLean, Z Quin, E Mallan, L Quin, J Collings.