Under 18.5's : With zero wind blowing and the ground in good condition for this time of the season, the stage was set for an entertaining day of action. Top of the table North were obviously keen to maintain their unbeaten status and the surging Tigers just as keen to protect their new found place in the "Five". As such there was a lot of pressure in the early stages with this being displayed in a couple of ways. Firstly, the disposal of each team suffered, with the net effect being that the game for the majority of the 1st half was very scrambly. Secondly, the umpires had their hands full with the amount of feel in the game. Still it was an absorbing contest with the Tigers having it by 8 points at the 1st change. They had the majority of play but couldn't convert accurately. The 2nd quarter was similar. The run of the Tigers ensured they remained competitive but the Eagles ruled the marking contests and they used this ro set up passages of play that caught the Tigers out of position. But the Tigers defended stoutly and as the match headed to the half way stage, it was still a game where both sides looked threatening and capable of winning the encounter. North nudged in front by 5 points at the break with plenty of footy to come.
The game opened up in the 3rd term with a subsequent improvement in skill level. It was the Eagles who made most of the play in the early stages of the quarter. The maintained their lead mainly through their superior marking and more effective goal shooting. But again the Tigers came back strongly in the latter stages of the term. In the shadows of the final break, an incident occurred which had a vital effect on proceedings. An unprecedented five players were sent from the field via the yellow card. Two from Portland and 3 from North. Portland had it by the narrowest of margins at three quarter time and the match was indeed evenly poised. Despite suffering due to the number disparity, the visitors claimed the early ascendancy in the final term. They worked hard in numbers and got to a lead of a couple of kicks but the Tigers again found a way back into the contest. A brace of goals in mid quarter saw them edge in front and the home crowd had visions of victory. But it was not to be. The Eagles steeled themselves for one final assault and this time there was no way back for Portland. The game had everything-skills, physicality and even a little touch of controversy. Two things emerged-the Tigers shall rue their string of lost chances in the early stages and the other was the significant advantage North had in the marking stakes. A creditable effort by the Tigers, but not quite getting the job done. Good Portland players were Liam Robinson, Kyle Anson, Taylor Murrell, Tom Hernan, Jesse Stone and Jarod Donovan.
Final scores: Portland 6-9=45
North Warrnambool 8-10=58
Reserves : After the atmosphere of the opening game, the Reserves had a difficult act to follow but they certainly took the game up to their highly rated opponents. Having suffered only1 loss for the season, the Eagles suddenly found themselves in a tight contest and but for tke Tigers errant kicking for goal, North might have been staring at a deficit at the 1st change. Instead, they had a 3 point lead courtesy of slightly superior disposal. Portland continued with their aggressive approach and soon wrested the lead from the Eagles. But this setback seemed to spur the visitors into attack mode and they regained the lead and proceeded to boot another major that had them on top by 10 points at the long break.
Unfortunately for the Tigers their intensity dropped off after the break and the Eagles were able to move the ball around the field with a lot more precision than they had previously been allowed to. The hosts were forced into playing from behind and then being caught out of position for the remainder of that passage of play. Down by 14 points at half time, the Tigers certainly didn't throw in the towel but North's edge in skill and fitness enabled them to ease out to a victory that they were made to earn. Portland were best served by Dylan Murray, Damien Bell, Jesse Stone, Daniel Kinghorn, Luke Hodge and Eamon Crossley.
Final scores: Portland 4-10=34
North Warrnambool 8-12=60
Seniors : The match started offin a low key manner with North monopolising possession but unable to extract full toll on the scoreboard. Portland pushed forward occasionally but they had trouble in the final third of the ground ie where the scoring is done. It could be safely said that it wasn't a quarter that got the pulses racing and although North took a 15 point margin into the 1st change, it was far from a one sided affair.But the trend continued in the 2nd quarter when again the Tigers had trouble penetrating the defensive wall of the Eagles. At the other end, the visitors pegged away and slotted afew goals without really taking total control. The game was waiting for a spark to happen but it hadn't appeared by half time when North held sway by 27 points.
And the spark happened right at the start of the 3rd term. Both teams threw off their defensive shackles and the game became a shoot out. North's superior aerial skills enabled them to force an easier passge to goal with this advantage giving them a return of 9 goals for the term. The Tigers were not to be denied, and they certainly made an impact on the scoreboard. But they were playing catch up footy and, although they stuck to their plan of harassment and running, the taller bodies of North were indeed a significant problem. The net result was that North were leaders by some 9 goals heading to the last term. The game didn't quite turn into a massacre but the death rattle was getting very close. North's greater physiacal presence overwhelmed the gallant Tigers and it was mostly one way traffic for the lads from North Warrnambool. They are a well drilled outfit who win the ball and use it to advantage. It will take an extremely good team to get the better of them but it only needs one day for that to happen. A lot of honest goers for the Tigers with the best of them being Daniel Falcone, Brett Uebergang, Levi Konitzka, Aaron Shepherd, Cam Mather and Matt Kelly.
Final scores: Portland 9-4=58
North Warrnambool 22-11=143
Last Modified on 17/07/2016 08:18