TIGERS WIN PYKE CUP

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

The mighty Claremont Tigers returned to winning ways after recording a scrappy but crucial eight-point win against Perth in sublime conditions at Mineral Resources Park in round 19.

Despite a sluggish start, the Tigers broke the game open in the second term by kicking six goals to one and then held off a late rally from the Demons to prevail 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68) and reclaim the Pyke Cup.

The Tigers and Demons play annually for the Pyke Cup, named in honour of Frank, who played in Perth’s 1966 premiership, and Don, who played in premierships with Claremont in 1987 and 1996 and was also senior coach from 1999 to 2000. 

Rampaging midfielder Bailey Rogers (game-high 31 disposals, game-high 12 clearances, game-high 10 inside 50s) continued his stunning season with another best-on-ground performance as he won the ball in the contest and repeatedly sent the Tigers forward, with fellow midfielder Ben Edwards (30 disposals, five tackles, eight inside 50s) playing in a similar vein and also crucial to the result.

Tough-as-nails defender Tom Baldwin (five tackles) helped repel the Demons with his clever positioning and reading of the play, while emerging ruckman Steve Miller (15 disposals, five tackles, game-high 28 hit-outs, four inside 50s, one goal) gave the Tigers terrific service around the ground for the second week running.

Hardworking and zippy forward Isaac Barton (14 disposals, five tackles, two goals) made a timely return from a knee injury, while Jye Bolton and key forward Timm House (equal game-high seven marks) each kicked three goals, with the former’s third major icing the contest in the 27^th minute of the final term.

Ben Rushforth and debutant Alex Pearce were rewarded for their strong form in the Reserves and joined Barton as inclusions to the Claremont team, as the Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term.

Captain Dec Mountford laid two early tackles on his way to a team-high seven for the game, before Perth forward Kristian Cary kicked the opening goal.

Miller then kicked the Tigers’ first major after gathering the crumbs off the pack, before acting Perth captain Brent Edmonds kicked the first of his two goals in his 100^th game to give the Demons an eight-point lead at quarter-time.

On the back of their sluggish and disappointing start to the game, coach Ash Prescott implored the Tigers to lift their intensity and desperation, before Jack Buller (equal game-high seven marks) marked strongly and converted from the pocket in the second minute of the second term.

Bolton, who cut a frustrated figure as he was subjected to constant attention from Perth pest Brodie Gray, replied in the best possible way by splitting the middle from the pocket to give the Tigers the lead for the first time, before Barton converted a searching kick inside 50 from Edwards.

A clearance and kick to the hotspot from Rogers was then converted by House, before Oscar Bird kicked Perth’s third goal.

Crafty half-forward Cal England, who had barely been sighted in the previous 50 minutes of play, then skilfully evaded traffic and finished brilliantly from the pocket, before a second goal from Bolton capped off a strong response from the Tigers and resulted in a 24-point lead at half-time.

Consecutive goals from Perth trimmed Claremont’s lead to 12 points in the second half, before Barton converted a kick to full-forward from Rushforth.

A dashing run and pass from half-forward Jake Patmore then set up House for his second goal as the Tigers restored their 24-point lead at the final change, with Prescott urging the team to be bold and aggressive.

However, the Demons had other ideas as they kicked the first three goals of the final term to slash Claremont’s lead to eight points, before House steadied for the Tigers with his third major after a dashing run and pass from Barton.

Former Tiger Jack Richardson then kicked consecutive goals to trim the lead to just two points and set up a grandstand finish.

Enter Bolton.

After being tagged and receiving little to no help from the umpires, the Claremont champion deployed himself at full-forward.

And when he marked the ball just inside 50 on a 45-degree angle in the closing stages of a tense contest, the Tigers knew that it was in safe hands.

The ice-cool No.11 then split the middle and celebrated accordingly in front of a silenced Demons Den as he helped the Tigers record their 11^th win of the season.

Pearce then led the team from the field with the Pyke Cup in hand before he was joined in the middle of the circle by House and defender Jacob Blight to belt out the team song.

The Tigers have a bye in round 20 before hosting West Coast at Revo Fitness Stadium in round 21.

CLAREMONT 1.1 7.4 9.6 11.10 (76)

PERTH 2.3 3.4 5.6 10.8 (68)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 J. Bolton, T. House, 2 I. Barton, 1 J. Buller, C. England, S. Miller.

PERTH: 2 J. Richardson, K. Cary, B. Edmonds, 1 O. Bird, S. Stubbs, C. Giblett, Z. Sanderson.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. Rogers, B. Edwards, T. Baldwin, S. Miller, I. Barton.

PERTH: J. Coniglio, T. Brogan-Henry, C. Giblett, B. Gray, J. Avery.