The Tigers travelled across town to meet the University of Queensland Red Lions at the St Lucia Campus in one of their local derbies yesterday. Once again, there was proof that every team in the Hart Sport QFA Division 1 competition has the potential to win every week with the Red Lions taking it up to the Tigers. The Red Lions play a special brand of football on their home deck which makes it very hard for oppositions to break out and yesterday was once again a case in point.
The first term was a closely fought encounter with the Red Lions ultimately being more accurate while the game was one of congestion mostly played in the Tigers forward fifty as the Red Lions pushed back strongly to close up the space. The St Lucia field is a small ground with tight pockets making it difficult to find space and the Tigers struggled under the Red Lions press to get any air.
The Red Lions were able to lead the term with a four point advantage with the Tigers paying for their inaccuracy kicking one goal and four behinds. The Tigers Tom Fry was sensational in the first term seemingly being everywhere to accumulate a wealth of possessions.
The Tigers broke loose in the second term thanks to some strong bullocking work from big man Josh Westerberg who used his size to advantage in the ruck and around the ground taking strong marks while he was also a handy target when he went forward. He has been improving significantly in recent weeks with yesterday being his best performance for the season finishing with two goals in a great four quarter effort.
The Tigers midfield also came into it’s own with Zac Quin and Jack Collings combining to get the clearances necessary for their team to go forward. Quin’s dash and Collings reading of the ball off the ruck were a feature all day. The Tigers were able to kick away during this term with a four goals to one effort with the forwards able to finish off some great work from up the field.
Ben Wilkinson slotted a long bomb from a set shot deep on the boundary to get the Tigers up and going to get on top of the ever pressing Red Lions.
The Red Lions however combined well to slingshot out of their backline through a hard running Riley Spink in the middle to put one on one pressure on the Tigers backline with their quick entries proving a handful when they got into the open.
The Tigers consolidated their lead in the third term but could not break completely away as they accumulated a mountain of behinds. Fortunately the Red Lions were similarly inaccurate missing numerous set shots. . Zac McLean got his hands on some strong marks to finish with two goals for the game providing an important focal point for his team.
Jack Coghlan was at his speedy best as he ran the Red Lions ragged. He was particularly dangerous in the second half skirting the middle of the ground to cause the Red Lions maximum damage.
The Tigers looked to have the game under their control at the final break but no team can be crossed out at this stage of the game in this competition.
The Red Lions started with a flurry of forward raids which created three free kicks in front of goal putting pressure back on the Tigers.
A strong mark finished off with a goal from Josh Westerberg settled the Tigers to what was hoped to be a match winning margin and then a signature running goal from Zac Quin gave the Tigers a twenty one point margin which should have been enough but a quick centre clearance and goal to the Red Lions showed the game was never over.
The final siren was only moments away though and the Tigers were very happy to get away with a tough win against a strong challenge from the Students.
The Tigers will enjoy another bye this coming week and prepare to play ladder leaders Coorparoo for the third time this year. The Tigers moved to third place after yesterday’s win but will need to win both remaining games to hold that spot.
Scores: Mayne 10.16.76 d UQ 8.13.61 Goals: J Westerberg, Z Quin, B Wilkinson, Z McLean 2, J Ivers, C Barber 1. Best: J Westerberg, J Coghlan, Z Quin, J Collings, Z McLean, T Fry.
