Defeat in Sydney!

A Long Journey Home

The Swans Reserves were far too polished for a depleted Tigers team last Saturday at the SCG. The stand alone match which had been switched from ANZ to Blacktown Olympic Park and then finally played at the SCG became a training run for the Swans who produced a stunning game of football.

They showed all the attributes of a professional organisation brimming with star players eager to push for a spot in their senior grade team.

The Tigers could not match their fleet of foot players nor their taller brigade of Currie, Spangher or Pyke and their dominate forward line of Dennis-Lane, Gordon and Moore along with others too numerous to mention. Playing the unbeaten Swans twice in Sydney in a space of 14 days proved too much for the undermanned

Tigers who were missing 8 players from their previous encounter with the Sydneysiders. Few players gained double figure stats. With the exception of Will Griggs and Toby Conroy it is hard to pick other players of note. Steve Jolliffe and Mitch Heaslip battled throughout along with Captain Ryan Quade.

Stephen Camp is presented his 1st First Grade Jumper.

Down by an enormous margin at half time the team gained a lot from their second half effort posting 4 goals to the Swans 12 even though without the services of Mitch Daniher and Toby Conroy – both injured for much of the second half.

The Tigers have the bye this weekend before taking on Eastlake at Manuka on 9 July NOT 10 July as per the draw.

Sydney Swans 7 6 21 8 26 19 33 22 (220) Queanbeyan 0 1 1 1 2 1 5 2 (32)Sydney Swans Goal Kickers: T. DENNIS-LANE 9, N. GORDON 7, M. SPANGHER 6, J. MOORE 3, E. MOODY 2, B. SUMNER 2, L. PARKER , D. CURRIE , A. Moody , M. PYKE Best Players: N. GORDON, J. MOORE, L. PARKER, M. SPANGHER, D. CURRIE, B. SUMNER Queanbeyan Goal Kickers: D. Campbell , A. Overs , J. DANIEL , T. Hollis , M. Wescombe Best Players: W. Griggs, M. Heaslip, T. Conroy, S. Jolliffe, B. WATTS

Reserve Grade

The Tigers battled a determined Gungahlin jets combination at Amaroo last Sunday before taking the match by 68 points. The Jets were coming off a win over third placed Eastlake the week before and were confident of producing another upset against a Tigers combination weakened by promotion of players to the senior grade team.

After receiving a football lesson up to half time, 1st Grade player Neil Irwin looks to the heavens for help!

Not to be, the Tigers depth has been fantastic this year and full credit to the players who have remained loyal to the black and gold even though not always getting a regular game.

Brett Fruend (who had previously declared himself unavailable for the NEAFL team due to a work related accident) recovered sufficiently by Sunday to take the field in the Reserves and he played the game of his career with the Tigers. He posted 6 goals from an on ball / forward line position and revelled in the space he was allowed by his opposition.

Down back Daniel Jabornik was impassable and must come under the eye of selectors in coming weeks. His strong marking and his ability to gather the ball at all costs will certainly place him well in contention for a call up to the NEAFL team.

That can also be said of 17 year old Mitch May who showed some of the talent that has him as a scholarship holder with the Sydney Swan. Simon Mackie is another with a strong desire to gain re-selection with the top team and based on recent form would certainly come under notice.

Thanks to Gerard Walshe, Daniel Sainsbury, Mitch MacKenzie and Andrew Regan for their efforts last week.

This Saturday the Tigers play ladder leaders Ainslie who remain undefeated in 2011. The match will be played at Dairy Farmers Park at 12 noon.

The Tigerettes will play the curtain raiser match against Eastlake while the clubs Under U16 Grade Div 1 team has the main match status at 2.00pm.

GUNGAHLIN 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 4 (34) QUEANBEYAN 2 4 7 6 11 10 15 12 (102)GUNGAHLIN Goal Kickers: S. TRUESDALE 3, D. McDonald , M. KEYS Best Players: D. BRADBROOK, W. McColl, B. Kane, R. DAVIS, M. RYALL, M. Brook QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: B. Fruend 6, B. WARD 2, L. WALKER-EASTICK 2, T. LEE , B. Walsh , K. WATTS , L. Wilkinson , D. CORCORAN Best Players: B. Fruend, B. JABORNIK, B. Walsh, M. May, S. Mackie, L. Wilkinson

Under 18 Grade

Two weeks ago the Tigers were well defeated by Marist College at Lindwell Oval.

A rematch last Sunday at the same venue could have gone the same way with a number of key players unavailable including Captain Stephen Camp who played with the NEAFL team at the SCG the previous day.

But the Tigers had different thoughts and by the 15 minute mark of the last quarter only points separated the two teams. The game could have gone either way but the College team gathered momentum in the final minutes to post a couple of goals to take the match. Had a few decision gone the other way then an upset could have been the result.

Although disappointed, Coach Paul Campbell can take a lot away from the game. The determination and desire of his young group of players to take the game up to the second placed Marist team was impressive.

For the second consecutive game Jack Bowyer was outstanding with his attack on the footy and ability to create play from the back line being a feature of his play. Kieran Shea played his best match for the season with David Hodder once again improving with every match. Toby Yeates played a great game with his desire to gain possession and push the Tigers into attack at every opportunity gaining praise from within the playing group.

Add the performance of Jason Taylor and James Armstrong (again). Well done guys – success is not too far away !!

MARIST 1 5 4 10 6 13 9 14 (68) QUEANBEYAN 1 1 2 2 4 6 5 8 (38)MARIST Goal Kickers: A. Bazzana 2, L. Flaherty 2, C. Sandison 2, S. Kenny , B. Fenech , C. O”Rourke Best Players: S. Kenny, C. Sandison, B. Fenech, D. Burns, N. Hall, S. Darcy QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: K. King 2, S. Vanholland 2, P. Maher Best Players: J. Bowyer, D. Hodder, K. SHEA, T. YEATES, J. TAYLOR, J. ARMSTRONG