PREMIER LEAGUE TIGERS @ COWRA The First National premier league tigers travelled to Cowra on Saturday and despite a determined Cowra outfit that wouldn’t go away, the tigers had too much for the home side taking their 2nd win in as many weeks with a 26-18 victory which consolidates them in the top 5. It took ten mins into the match for big front rower Greg Behan to put his stamp on the match carrying three defenders over from close range to score adjacent to the posts. Blake Fitzpatrick added the extras for a 6-0 lead . Some great defence early from both Kirk Roberts and Zac Rowlandson that looked like rattling the defence off their game, and halfway through the first half came the try of the game with a deep kick going down inside the 20 with what looks like there’s nothing doing Reece as the flash usually does Finlay would find space up the middle stepping outside the opposite centre crosses the halfway Blake Miller looms up in support, then with a timely pass from Reece to Blake. Blake himself still had work to do with opposition players still on his tail and the fullback still to beat, a neat little in and away on the #1 taking it all the way around under the post in two brilliant showcases of speed from both boys. Fitzpatrick again would convert and 12-0 tigers were up. The next set on defence would show Kirk putting some sting into his tackles and forcing a drop ball from Cowra, right when Cowra looked like they were close to bagging points. But it only took a couple more minutes and Cowra would find the line after some repeat sets inside the Oberon 20 they crossed out wide and unconverted at 12-4 tigers. Some good kicks from Claude getting the boys out of trouble on occasions deep down field and even for a repeat set once again. Both Nathan Booth and Wade Judd came on and did not disappoint getting through plenty of hit ups and defence and Zac Elwin filling in for injured Sam Gascoigne worked hard and did just what was expected of him in the number 9. With just minutes left on the clock a right side shift from the home side would bring the score closer right on halftime a gap presenting itself and the Cowra centre improved his position for the goal kicker and at halftime the First National tigers would go into the break narrow leaders at 12 points to 10 in front. When the 2nd half started with it was a struggle from both sides for ascendancy with an error each way and another kick from Claude giving the boys more possession with his brilliant kicking ability’s both on the ground and in the air, however the boys would go within millimetres of scoring and a change of possession once more back to Cowra and a penalty to the home team had them piggybacked down the other end and they put it through quick hands and scored in the left hand corner to take the lead. Tthe try was not converted and for the first time on the day the premier league tigers were behind on the scoreboard 16-12. But these tigers weren’t done yet. On the very next attacking set the tigers sent the ball from half to winger with Dallas Booth sending Reece over in the corner with a nice offload and the tigers were back on top after Blake Fitzpatrick thrilled us with his kick from the touchline to take a 18-16 lead late in the match. This made the tigers hungry for more and the very next set after some great go forward from Greg Behan, Zac Rowlandson and Luke Christie-Johnston up front, the boys were up over the halfway on just 3 plays and a penalty would give them a chance to really stamp out the threat from their opponents with another try. Claude would provide with a kick on play 5 in behind the defensive line to the corner and young winger Riccie Arriola would claim it diving on the loose ball to score in the corner. The try was unconverted and at 22-14 with 11mins left the boys were marching hard and fast, not long after it was Blake Fitzpatrick’s turn and he took on the defence stepping and swerving as if the defence was standing still and putting the foot down on a solid and dominating period for the tigers 26-14 ahead and the boys weren’t going to be beaten. Cowra did manage to muster a late try with minutes left but it was really too little too late fulltime 26-18 to the tigers and the supporters and sponsors must be buzzing at the potential of this team that is destined for glory in 2013 well done boys. OBERON 26 (G.BEHAN, B.MILLER, R.FINLAY, R.ARRIOLA, B.FITZPATRICK)tries (B.FITZPATRICK 3/5)goals def. COWRA 18.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 03:52:31 +0000
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