North Cairns were left soul-searching after a drubbing on the season’s opening night but showed plenty of fight as they fought back from a 28-point deficit to get within two goals before half time on Saturday.
Needing to bridge a four-goal gap at the final break, the Tigers gave their faithful some hope by kicking the first goal of the quarter when Pat Heenan found open space in the goal square.
But a breakdown coming out of defence soon after led to an easy reply and, with momentum hard to grab in the wet, the hosts left themselves with too much to do.
The Lions showed more poise as the rain bucketed down in the third term and eventually finished 14.18 (102) to 12.12 (84) winners.
An AFL Cairns debut from former Melbourne Demon excitement machine Austin Wonaeamirri was not what it could have been in the wet conditions.
The Tiwi Island product still showed glimpses of class with a left-hand bounce in slippery conditions and a team-high three goals for North Cairns.
Charlie Haley had five for the Lions, though, as they did enough to get past a Tigers side that wouldn’t go away.
“They started well and had good attack on the ball,” Lions coach John Tootell said.
“We maybe got a bit complacent and took the foot off when up by four or five goals but they were pretty hard at it and will keep improving.”
Tigers coach David Arnfield was much happier than seven days earlier, saying his men showed the work ethic expected of them.
“I’m happy with the effort and endeavour, particularly at 30 points down, but not happy we didn’t win,” he said.
He said Wonaeamirri and NEAFL teammate Heenan were likely to play most home games this season.
“They showed their class and, considering they didn’t know any of their teammates and it was so slippery, were still good for us,” Arnfield said.
Both sides had plenty of niggles, with Lion Chris Kickett nursing a rib injury and veteran Willie Alick hobbling noticeably for Tigers.
Norths will get a crack at an underwhelming South Cairns – who were thumped by Cairns Saints on the weekend – in an Anzac Day clash next Saturday.
And the Lions face red-hot Centrals Trinity Beach.
Article courtesy of Murral Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 21/04/2015 13:04