Tigers dig deep to down Pumas at Lowe Oval

It was another battle with the Springwood Pumas which loomed large for the Tigers yesterday at Lowe Oval as the QFA Division 1 Competition nears completion for 2026. There was much at stake with the Tigers desperate to hold on to top spot, the UQ Red Lions pressing to take it away and the hoodoo of Lowe Oval ever present.

The Pumas play at another level at their home ground and the Tigers have rarely enjoyed success there and with a number of their stars absent again with injury it was going to take a mammoth effort to get over the line. A collision in the Tigers last game between Daniel Schmidt and Zach Quin saw the two stars out while Eddie Mallan was a late withdrawal due to soreness. Add Hayden Fry to the list of outs and it was looking a bit grim but the Pumas had their problems as well with their champion Rowan Page out due to a training mishap on Thursday night and the game was perhaps evenly poised.

The Tigers were off to a quick start with Beau Harris providing a centre clearance to the advantage of Ryan Doolan who duly kicked the goal in what proved to be very tricky conditions with a swirling cross wind dominant all day.

The Tigers Louis Quin kicked the Tigers second and it looked like the visitors were going to get off to a big start.

It was from here however that the battle began in earnest with the ball bouncing between backlines. The Tigers Kyle Henry had his hands full with Puma Greg Friis but he had a very good game to hold the veteran to just one goal which proved to be one of the differences for the day. James Stolz put in his usual solid performance across half back while youngster Alex Craigie played an important role as well. Casey Barber was providing most of the rebound in another strong performance from the wiry defender.

The Pumas Aaron Christenson hit back with their first major after ten minutes of jousting but Pat Glass kicked the Tigers third in a clever piece of roving off the pack to increase the lead.

Friis kicked his only goal for the day after two set shots went adrift in the breeze to round out the first term and see the Tigers just one goal the better.

The Pumas came out after the break to set the scene kicking three goals and dominate field position for the first half of the term taking an eight point lead before Zac McLean hit the scoreboard for the Tigers to arrest the Pumas momentum. The Tigers finished the term taking back control to retain their earlier one goal lead at the main break. The game was anyone’s in a classic battle at Lowe Oval.

The Tigers came out after the main break and gradually wore the Pumas down with a number of classic battles around the ground. The Tigers Beau Harris and the Pumas Jackson Free were going ball for ball in the middle while the Tigers Jamie Ivers and the Pumas Zane Whitney battled for air supremacy in the ruck and around the ground in an enthralling contest.

The Tigers often unsung men in Digby Morison and Nick Galvin were instrumental in keeping the Tigers going forward as they won most of their individual battles throughout the day.

The Tigers kicked three goals while holding the Pumas goalless with Rhys Syrett kicking two big set shots at the southern end of the ground showing everyone just how to judge the conditions.

While the game never seemed to be totally in the Tigers grasp, they never lost the lead after the second term and finished off with another three goal term. The Tigers started the term with goals to spearheads Ryan Doolan and Zac McLean to push the Tigers out to a game high six goal lead before the Pumas threw up their final challenge with two goals in quick succession but another goal to Zac McLean ended any hope of a miracle finish for the Pumas as the Tigers enjoyed a rare win at Lowe Oval.

It proved to be all good news for the Tigers with the UQ Red Lions going down to a resurgent Hinterland Blues at UQ. The Tigers are now outright leaders on the table with three games to go all of which will be good preparation for the finals including Hinterland next week at the Den.

Scores: Mayne 12.12.84 d Springwood 7.9.51

Goals:  Zac McLean 4, Louis Quin 3, Ryan Doolan, Rhys Syrett 2, Pat Glass 1.

Best: Beau Harris, Louis Quin, Casey Barber, Nick Galvin, Digby Morison, Kyle Henry.