Magpies to strong for Tigerettes!

The Tigerettes put on a gutsy display, an arguably their best for the season despite going down to 4th placed Belconnen by 66 points at Town Park on Saturday.

The Tigerettes were again well served by their on field leaders Dani Louis and Kristen Turner with ACT rep Hannah Dunn and young gun Tegan Tisma and wingers Jane Vucago and Sarah Van Meurs again standing out.

But more pleasing were season best performances from Tess Kolaric running straight through packs playing off a half back flank, Maddi Skinner outstanding as a small crumbing forward and Lani Watson continuing her improvement in the midfield. Pip Butt also made a very welcome return to the team having returned from overseas and along with Shay Thomas providing the team with very solid key defensive posts and allowing Roni Jordan to hold down centre half forward which she did well with inaccurate kicking the only minor flaw.

The Tigerettes got off to a good start reversing a trend that had seen them previously struggle after not playing the week before (and in this case two weeks). In fact the team led by a point half way through the first term and with a bit more composure good easily have registered the opening goal. With only 18 fit players available the Team struggled to run the quarter out and let in a couple of late goals to trail by 14 at the first break.

The second term started poorly with Belconnen kicking a goal within 90 seconds. But the Tigerettes responded with the next centre clearance and straight line running and quick hands from full forward Fran Langi set up a great chance for Roni Jordan whose kick was unfortunately wide. The Tigerettes battled ferociously for the next ten minutes before again tiring late in the term and probably being a little lucky to only be down by 38 at the long break.

The Tigerettes again battled hard in the third term Maddi just missing a chance to kick the first goal of the half but then a few sloppy free kicks and lack of concentration allowed Belconnen a couple of easy goals. But this time the team fought out the quarter and Maddi nonstop running was eventually rewarded with a free kick 15 m out but on the boundary line. Cleverly she hand balled inside to Lani Watson who was advantaged as a natural left footer and kicked truly under pressure to post the teams first major to be done by 45 at the final break.

In a replica of the first and third term the Tigerettes won the opening centre square clearance and posted the first score, all three times Roni’s kick again just going the wrong side of the big stick. An injury to Lani Watson after a high shot left the Tigerettes down to 17 players and with tired legs. Belconnen capitalised with a couple of good running goals but to the Tigerettes credit and Lani came back onto the field they only let in one more for the day to go down 10.17.77 to 1.5.11.

To put the performance into perspective the team was beaten by 80 points by Belconnen in half a game of footy at the Cooma Carnival in pre-season, so they have showed some clear improvement on that. However it is not all good news as demonstrated by only starting with 18 the team is clearly struggling for numbers at only the half way mark of the season and desperately need to find a few more enthusiastic and fit bodies or else risk leaving too much to too few.

Next week the team take on the Riverina Lions in the first ever official home game at Dairy Farmers Park. Game in on Saturday and starts at 12noon with the Tigerettes keen to put up a much improved display on their 140 point belting down at Wagga in Round 1.

Queanbeyan 0-2 0-3 1-4 1-5-11 Belconnen 2-4 5-11 7-13 10-17-77 Goals: Lani Watson Best: Maddi Skinner, Tess Kolaric, Roni Jordan, Lani Watson, Tegan Tisma, Dani Louis, Kristen Turner, Jane Vucago, Sarah Van Meurs