Under 18.5's : The fine sunny conditions belied the tricky wind that caused the ball to swirl around and made a stern test of the players' skill level and fortitude. The game flowed around the park with neither side gaining supremacy. Both sides were keen to use the handball and usually it was to good effect. Quarter time saw the game all tied up. Initially in the 2rd term, the Tigers were on top and they used the advantage to slip out to a lead of a couple of goals. But Cobden rallied and attacked on the correct side of the ground to slot three goals that was enough to take an 8 point lead into the main break. It was an entertaining game to this stage with both combatants displaying efficient skills in winning and disposing of the ball in the strong cross wind.
The game continued on in the same mode in the 3rd term with the visitors looking to have a slight edge. Whenever the Tigers notched a major, Cobden had the right of reply and they maintained their lead right through to the last break where they had a 5 point margin to the the good. An early major to the Bombers and Portland looked to have the staggers which proved to be partially true. The visitors got on a wave and raced out to a break of some 4/5 goals and the game looked to be comfortably within their grasp. But the Tigers were not to be discarded just at that point and they responded by slotting a few majors of their own . But it was to be of no avail and the Bombers got to the finish with 20 points to spare. Some sterling performances from the Portland contingent with the best being the dashing David Denboer, Kyle Anson, Callum Schultz, Gordy Slade, Liam Robinson and Callum Crespan.
Final score: Portland 11-1=67
Cobden 13-9=87
Reserves : Portland blasted into action from the opening bounce, kicking to the seward end which was favoured by the gusting breeze at this stage. And the Tigers made full use of the conditions to post some well-taken majors. The scoreboard posted a handy lead of 20 points to the Tigers at the first break- the query was whether it would withstand the Bomber challenge. They certainly could and they tended to stretch their lead at every break. The players seemed to revel in the fine conditions, winning possession of the football and delivering it effectively. Good players emerged from all over the ground but those deserving mention were Daniel Kinghorn,Delwyn Beavis, Jesse Stone, Jake Jones, Dan Oliver and Jayden Clark.
Final scores: Portland 13-9=87
Cobden 7-5=47
Seniors : Defences were well on top in the early exchanges of this clash with neither side able to make an impression on the scoreboard. Cobden settled into a rhythmn a little sooner than the Tigers and were able to exert a little scoreboard pressure. Their work was just a bit too polished with their entry into the forward line also being more clinical. It was an absorbing tussle that promised to evolve into a game where the winner wouldn't be revealed until deep into the encounter. A goal separated the contestants at the first change with Cobden in the ascendancy. The Tigers were up against the tide in the 3rd quarter with the Bombers kicking to the scoring end and through shrewd ball use, they were able to stretch their lead to a few goals at the long break. As was the case in the previous week, the 2nd term returned a negative result for the Tigers and they were facing, if not a mountain, a fairly big hill to climb in the 2nd half.
But the Portland side got around the ball and worked themselves back into the game. It again was some what of a replica of previous week when the Tigers put themselves into a winning position at the last change. This came about because of a lift in intensity combined with a sharpening of the basic skills such as one grab, playing in front and precise delivery. It did the home supporters good and set the stage for a tense last quarter. A tense affair it certainly was with Cobden kicking to the favoured end. Cobden dominated possession in the early phase of the quarter and using the breeze, they managed to toil their way to a lead od 11 points well into time on. The resilience of the Tigers was to be tested and they reacted in a positive manner. The effort from the young Tigers was to be admired but in the finale, Cobden had done enough to get over the line by a meagre 4 points. Again gut wrenching but the lesson as from last week is it is a 4 quarter game and that at the level of the competition, sides have to be on full alert for the duration of the game. The efforts and skill execution of Portland were best exemplified by Nathan Haylock( having a stellar season ), Aaron Shepherd( 3 goals in sparkling fashion ), Felix Jones, Daniel Jackson, Levi Konitzka and Pat Haylock. Coach Luke Crane was again inspirational in rallying his troops as well as bagging 4 majors.
Final scores: Portland 11-9=75
Cobden 11-13=79
Last Modified on 15/05/2016 08:22