BLACKALL WIN SECURES TIGERS FINALS BERTH
By Matt Crowhurst
There is an old expression that says ‘Cometh the hour, Cometh the man’ and on Saturday night in Blackall that man was Matt Zgrajewski. Country Week is always tough, however it got a lot tougher in the moments prior to kick off as captain Dane Hogan and inspirational prop Liam McDonald were both ruled out. However, the 100 game man Zgrajewski stepped up and showed exactly why he is the club captain, coming off the bench to play an unprecedented 75 minutes at prop and lead his team to a courageous come from behind 20-18 win.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the first minute of the match after the Magpies allowed the kick-off to go into touch. A well worked set play from the ensuing scrum saw Shane Neumann run round behind the post to score the Tigers opening points. Shaun Nona converted and the Tigers led 6-0.
For much of the first half the Tigers were the better side. They were more structured in both attack and defence. Led by Zgrajewski, Jake Foster and former Magpie Matt Pitman, the Tigers forwards were too big and mobile for the Souths Logan pack.
However, credit must go to the Magpies. Despite being outplayed, they defended resolutely and keep the Tigers scoreless for the remainder of the first half.
Souths Logan’s first try had more than a touch of the Tigers about it. Former Tiger, Leon Panapa, running the ball across field to their right edge, found another former Tiger in Jack Joass who scampered over the white line to score. Scott Doyle converted and the scores were locked up at 6-all.
It appeared the Magpies were in again a few minutes later, when veteran Phil Dennis put Panapa into space down their right side, before Tigers fullback Donald Malone pulled off the tackle of the match to stop Panapa dead in his tracks. However, the Magpies were not to be denied as they quickly spun the ball back to their left edge for Rhys Jacks to find Scott Doyle, who took the ball round his ankles before diving over to score. Doyle converted his own try and with three minutes to go in the first stanza the Magpies led 12-6.
The final three minutes of the first half and the opening few minutes of the second half were marred by a raft of penalties, mainly flowing to the Magpies. Three times they were awarded penalties in kickable positions and three times Scott Doyle slotted the goal to take the Magpies out to an 18-6 lead.
The Tigers opened the second half with Billy Walters and Matt Pitman heavily involved and both added much needed spark to the Tigers attack. Walters quick darts from dummy half as well as his passing game helped ensure the big Magpies pack were always on the back foot. In the 50th minute Pitman took the ball at first receiver and ran straight between two defenders before slipping a lovely pass to Dwayne Craft, who cantered down field to score untouched. Nona missed the conversion attempt and the Magpies led 18-10.
Ten minutes later the Tigers were in again, this time through halfback Brentt Warr. Two things have marked Warr’s performances this season. Firstly his astute kicking game, especially for one so young and secondly his running game. Warr has the knack of running across field, either left to right or right to left, searching for a gap in the defensive line. His ability to jink and step simply mesmerises opposition defenders. Saturday night he was at it again, after taking a pass at first receiver Warr made it look all to easy as he popped off his right foot three times and was over the try line. Nona converted and the Tigers had reduced the Magpies lead down to two points at 18-16.
It was clear as the game rolled on that the Tigers had started to re-gain the ascendancy. The Tigers forwards, led by Foster, Pitman and Troy Giess constantly had the Magpies on the back-foot, providing time and space for Tommy Butterfield and Billy Walters to make in-roads from the ensuing play-the-balls. As the Tigers started to dominate the ruck, halves Nona and Warr were now both full of running and the Magpies defence was being stretched at every turn.
With eight minutes to go Butterfield, Nona and Neumann combined to put Brandon Downey into space on the left. However, this was no easy stroll over the line for the rookie finisher, but Downey, who has only played a hand full of games in the top grade, looked very accomplished as he forced his way over in traffic. Nona missed the conversion from the sideline and the Tigers lead 20-18.
Determined, courageous, resolute and gritty. It can be hard to find new adjectives to use when describing the Tigers when you write about them on a regularly basis. However, it does not really matter which word you choose, the message is the same. For this side to have secured a finals berth with still two rounds to play, it is nothing short of remarkable.
It is impossible to not be impressed by what this group of young men have achieved in 2015 and one cannot help but feel that there is more to come.
EASTS TIGERS 20 (Shane Neumann, Brandon Bowney, Brentt Warr, Dwayne Craft tries; Shaun Nona 2 goals) defeated SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 18 (Jack Joass, Scott Doyle tries; Scott Doyle 5 goals).
