Tigers maul Hawks in second half rout

The Mayne Tigers and Sandgate Hawks came together yesterday for the annual Anzac Day Shield game at the Den.

The Hawks went down to the Tigers last year and were desperate to gain the honours this year on this important day on the calendar.

After a moving ceremony the game kicked off under gloomy skies with the rain persisting at intervals making for greasy conditions.

The Tigers left out prime movers Jamie Ivers and Beau Harris but were still very happy with their lineup. The high flying youngster Hayden Fry and a hard working Corbin Pett stepped in for Ivers in a change up for the middle of the ground for the Tigers while at ground level the dynamic Duncan McCabe relished the opportunity to take the lead in the middle.

In a very entertaining first term the Tigers inched their way to a four goal lead with the Tigers sharing the goals around after Digby Morison drew first blood. The Hawks were well in the game though having kicked two and were working hard around the ground. The Hawks Jared Bond was everywhere while Josh Westerberg was having a strong tussle with Tigers spearhead Ryan Doolan.

The second term was more of the same with the Hawks appearing to be much improved on their 2025 form such that the game was still in the balance at the main break. The Tigers had extended their lead to seven goals but the Hawks were still fighting hard keeping their supporters buoyant that something special might be possible or at least fight out a tight tussle to the end.

The Tigers were working hard but hadn’t broken the shackles at this stage even though Jasper Craven had kicked his third goal and Digby Morison his second while Hayden Fry was flying over the top of his Hawks opponent to win the ruck comprehensively.

The main break must have had some profound effect on both clubs with the Hawks going completely into their shell while the Tigers got right off the chain to kick twenty one goals in the second half including a fourteen goal final term in extraordinary fashion.

The Tigers forward line was feasting on an endless amount of centre clearances as the likes of Jack Collings, Duncan McCabe, Louis Quin and Rhys Syrett ran amok.

Zac Quin was on the end of this unrelenting supply to kick seven goals and a further five behinds reflecting how much more damage could have been inflicted.

Craven finished with six goals while Zac McLean was creative as usual to land four goals. The Tigers had ten goal kickers in an impressive effort.

The Tigers defenders could not claim to have done a lot of work in the second half however their miserly efforts as usual gave the Tigers the platform to work their strategy to maximum effect.

Daniel Schmidt was strong in the air while Kyle Henry did battle with the evergreen Aaron Fabian in an enthralling game within the game. James Stolz went forward late in the game to kick a very popular defender’s goal on the run to cap off a big day for the club.

The Tigers retained the Anzac Day Shield while Jasper Craven was the worthy winner of the Meakin Stackpoole Medal.

Scores: Mayne 30.21.201 d Sandgate 3.4.22

Goals:  Zac Quin 7, Jasper Craven 6, Zac McLean, Digby Morison 4, Nick Galvin 3, Ryan Doolan 2, Alex Craigie, Chas Van Leeuwin, Louis Quin, James Stolz 1.

Best: Jasper Craven, Zac Quin, Hayden Fry, Jack Collings, Duncan McCabe, Digby Morison.