TIGERS RECORD FIRST WIN

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

Claremont’s Reserves recorded their first win of the season after defeating South Fremantle by 14 points in a low-scoring contest at Revo Fitness Stadium in round two.

The Tigers kicked four goals to none in the first half and prevailed 6.9 (45) to 4.7 (31) in warm and windy conditions.

Prolific wingman Sam Alvarez recorded a team-high 28 disposals and an equal game-high five inside 50s as he was named best player for his busy and impressive performance, while key defender Anthony Davis (27 disposals, game-high eight marks) starred in defence as he intercepted and repelled the Bulldogs on his way to winning the players’ player award.

Acting captain Ben Elliott and Alex Pearce (25 disposals) were also important contributors, while forwards Logan Guelfi and Lewis Daisley (team-high two goals) led the way with their appetite for the contest.

Meanwhile, powerful defender Declan Carruthers made a promising debut and laid two desperate smothers during the second term.

On a sour note, midfielder Tom Ledger suffered a knee injury.

Darryl Anderson kicked a team-high two goals for the Bulldogs, who made a bright start to the game but were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard before the Tigers worked their way on top.

Ruckman Kalin Lane took a strong mark at full-back before Kai Harwood kicked the opening goal, before Daisley extended Claremont’s lead after he split the middle as the result of terrific forward pressure creating a turnover.

This gave the Tigers an 11-point lead at quarter-time, with coach Darren Harper urging the team to be tighter on their opponents and play the percentages.

Elliott then hauled in a strong mark at half-back before forward Max Minear kicked the opening goal of the second term, before Pearce won the contested ball in midfield and Tyron Smallwood kicked Claremont’s fourth major.

The powerful Kieran Gowdie then laid a crunching shepherd on an opponent before Carruthers laid the first of his smothers at half-back.

Ledger then had to be assisted from the field after an opponent made contact with him after he had disposed of the ball in the back pocket, before Carruthers laid another desperate smother, this time at half-forward.

The result was a 29-point lead to Claremont at half-time, before the Bulldogs kicked the opening two goals of the second half.

A desperate smother from Harwood at full-back denied the Bulldogs another goal, before Ethan Brown kicked truly after the three-quarter-time siren to bring the visitors to within 10 points at the final break.

Harper urged the Tigers to “grind our way back into the contest”, before Carruthers laid a crunching tackle in the final term and Charlie Malone crumbed and snapped truly.

A spoil from Davis denied the Bulldogs before Daisley kicked his second goal, before Davis took another mark in defence.

Anderson then kicked his second goal for the Bulldogs, before a spoil from Alvarez forced a throw-in and the Tigers recorded a deserving win.

The Tigers will be aiming for consecutive wins when they host Perth at the same venue in round three.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts also recorded their first win of the season after defeating an inaccurate South Fremantle by eight points, 8.8 (56) to 6.12 (48).

CLAREMONT 2.2 4.8 4.9 6.9 (45)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 0.3 0.3 3.5 4.7 (31)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 L. Daisley, 1 T. Smallwood, C. Malone, M. Minear, K. Harwood.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 2 D. Anderson, 1 N. Spooner, E. Brown.

BEST

CLAREMONT: S. Alvarez, A. Davis, B. Elliott, A. Pearce, L. Guelfi, L. Daisley.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: S. Thompson, J. Salmeri, M. Ward, G. Wessels, J. Doney.