The Tigers played their return fixture yesterday against the Caloundra Panthers at the Den in near perfect conditions in another important match in the context of both club’s seasons. The Tigers have lost a few games they could have won earlier in the season and one of them was their clash with the Panthers at the Sunshine Coast venue.
The Panthers hold third spot with the Tigers sitting just below them in fourth position and eager to finish the season off with a strong run to the finals. The Tigers secured their fourth spot last week with a very good win over the Beenleigh Buffaloes but they were yet to beat a side above them on the ladder.
The Panthers are a strong team with a very good midfield who have pace to burn but the Tigers have plenty of quality of their own across the park including avenues to goal which they immediately showed yesterday in the opening minutes of the game putting on four goals in the blink of an eye beginning on the back of blistering centre clearances. Jamie Ivers was on the receiving end of the first one and he made no mistake to get the Tigers up and going as well as his own game for a very impressive four quarter effort.
The Panthers are a genuine top flight side and took the Tigers onslought in their stride to mount a fightback with two goals of their own before the first break to narrow the deficit to eleven points.
The Tigers Jack Collings has had a trademark season for the multiple Club Champion and yesterday was just that as he was all over park accumulating a mountain of possession but it was his leadership at critical points of the game which gave his team the edge.
Zac Quin continues to gain in stature across the competition and once again he came in for some special attention but ultimately his pace and flexibility stood out as his clearance work gave the Tigers quality possessions at every turn. Little brother Louis who is now well and truly out of his more fancied sibling’s shadow was terrific across half back to give the Tigers the rebound they needed to counter any Panther attack.
The second term was an enthralling period with both sides trying to assert their control. The Panthers were up and running with Luca Mason and Captain Jacob Watson taking control to win the term and close in on the Tigers. The game was evenly poised at the main break with the Tigers holding a slender four point lead.
It was more of the same in the third term with the Tigers under plenty of pressure. The Tigers emerging new look backline was doing a power of work with veteran Dean Hartley as always bravely backing into packs to lead the way. Callum Ferguson continues to thrive in the men’s department under the Hartley mentorship as he shows not only poise under duress, but also an extraordinary acceleration to clear the danger zone.
The Panthers gained the slenderest of leads with a one point advantage at the final break leaving all the Tiger supporters on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what the final term held in this captivating game.
It was nip and tuck for most of the term but it was in red time that the Tigers took their cue to win the contest with a freakish intercept and run by Zac Quin to kick a long range goal and ignite the home side. Jack Coghlan responded shortly after with a similar intercept to use his considerable pace and kick another exciting goal on the run to leave the Panthers stunned.
The Tigers were on the balls of their feet by then running out the dying minutes of the term to record a great win by twenty one points in what had been a great game by both teams.
The Tigers play University of Queensland at St Lucia next week as the season draws closer to the finals with just three fixtures remaining.
Scores: Mayne 14.8.92 d Caloundra 10.11.71 Goals: J Ivers 3, Z Quin, J Coghlan 2, H Fry, J Collings, J Stolz, J Westerberg, J McVeigh, H Petersen 1. Best: J Collings, J Ivers, Z Quin, J Coghlan, C Ferguson, D Hartley.
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