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Rising Stars Under 18 Grade
The Tigers NEAFL team had the bye last weekend with the Division 1 and Under 18 Grade teams playing at Dairy Farmers Park against Ainslie and Marist respectively.
The opening game was played in freezing conditions with frost covering the ground until just before kick off.
Playing against Marist is never easy especially with the absence of a number of players including Captain Steve Camp and Kieran Shea (both called up to play with the GWS Giants team against Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast) and ruck-man Justin Galloway promoted to the Tigers Division 1 team.
An incredibly composed Tigers outfit managed to claw their way to victory against a Marist outfit that never gave up the fight and were always “thereabouts” right to the final siren. It was an arm wrestle in light of the free kick count against the Tigers outfit being 38 to 6 !
While spectators were terribly confused and frustrated the players took it on the chin and to their great credit went about trying to play footy to the best of their ability.
They won in the end – against all odds.
There is no doubt as the season moves closer to the finals a number of these players are going to experience senior grade footy at some stage if they haven’t already.
The older age players of this group; Toby Yeates, Mitch Haley, Alec McCormick, Kyle Furrugia, Mitch Price, Graham John, Daniel Hespe and James Armstrong plus even some of the younger players such as Cody Haub and Jason Taylor may all be given the nod in coming weeks.
This week they take on Tuggeranong Hawks who seem to be improving each week. It will be a tough contest at Greenway on Saturday.
Queanbeyan 2 1 5 4 7 4 9 8 (62) MARIST 2 1 2 2 3 5 5 12 (42)Queanbeyan Goal Kickers: G. LENNON 2, C. Haub 2, M. Haley 2, J. McKenna , J. Macdonald , D. HESPE Best Players: A. McCORMICK, K. Farrugia, M. Haley, J. ARMSTRONG, J. TAYLOR, N. LEMBIT MARIST Goal Kickers: T. Catlin 3, S. Darcy , M. Clark Best Players: S. Darcy, S. Drummond, T. Keys, S. Kobal, T. Catlin, N. Hall
AFL Canberra Division 1
The Tigers Division 1 team played Ainslie for the second time in three weeks with the Tricolours proving too strong in the last quarter.
With a host of senior grade premiership players it took until the last twenty minutes of the last quarter for the visiting team to find their form and power away to a convincing win.
Eight goals to Ainslie in the last quarter after the Tigers had led at three quarter time (plus kicking the first goal of the last quarter) was disheartening to the coaching staff but realistic considering the quality of opposition and some of the fitness of the Tigers group.
They will need to improve to maintain their spot in the four when they take on Tuggeranong Hawks this Saturday at Greenway who sit just two competition points out of the four.
Last weeks match was an entertaining affair, a quality game of Division 1 with many highlights in the first three quarters. Players from both sides were hard at it and displayed great endeavour as they moved the ball freely around the ground.
For the Tigers once again the older heads prevailed amongst the best with Tom Hollis, Campbell Griggs, Greg Hair and the Watts twins standing out. Youngster Jake Oram is growing in statue within this group after showing much promising in 2010 with an injury interrupted 2011.
It was tremendous to see Michael Wescombe back on the track after a 13 week break due to injury. Although running out of puff he certainly showed signs of his experience and mental strength.
If only this team could manage to have the same group of players on the park in consecutive weeks instead of 6 to 8 changes, then they may be able to display the form that has gained them triple premierships in the previous three years.
QUEANBEYAN 1 4 4 7 6 10 7 11 (53) Ainslie 1 2 2 7 5 13 13 14 (92)QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: D. Campbell 2, B. WATTS , S. Kelly , J. HENSHAW , M. Wescombe , T. Hollis Best Players: C. GRIGGS, T. Hollis, J. Oram, G. Hair, K. WATTS, B. WATTS Ainslie Goal Kickers: M. ABLETT 3, F. Nortje 3, B. Hackett 2, J. Cuzner 2, R. Tutt , A. Vandenberg , C. Dobson Best Players: K. Morris, M. RENET, J. Cuzner, F. Nortje, R. Blundell, T. Davison
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