Falcons Swoop on Tigers | Round 11 Reserves Match Report

Claremont (Reserves) have lost consecutive games for the first time this season after West Perth prevailed by 48 points at the Showgrounds.

The Tigers kicked only two goals in the second and third quarters combined as the Falcons ran out winners 15.13 (103) to 8.7 (55).

On an overcast and blustery day, the visitors’ were on the board when Matthew Fowler kicked his first goal of the game three minutes into the contest.

The Tigers responded when Ben Daniher hit the post before Jordan Aitken kicked the hosts’ first goal for the game after being found by Keegan Knott as the result of a neat transition from defence to the forward line.

The Falcons hit back with a goal to Drew Rohde before Henry Roberts kicked the Tigers’ second after a fantastic squaring-pass by Knott.

After a scrappy and even first term the Tigers found themselves trailing by four points at the first change.

Coach Nigel Wilson implored his charges to increase their pressure acts in the forward line, and take the easy option when it presented itself.

The message seemed to have worked wonders when Ben Higgs goaled to put the Tigers in front barely one minute into the second term.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got, as the Falcons hit back with the next five goals to take a 28-point lead into half time.

The second half didn’t start much better for the Tigers as the Falcons kicked the opening four goals to effectively kill off the contest.

A late goal to Jackson Starcevich added some respectability to the scoreboard, although the visitors’ turned for home with an unassailable 45-point lead.

With pride on the line the Tigers kicked the opening two goals of the last term through the hard-working Knott, before Roberts kicked his second for the game at the six minute mark.

The Falcons would then go on to kick four of the remaining five goals with a Joel Ebert effort in between the only solace from a second disappointing Tigers’ effort inside five days.

To make matters worse for the home side, ruckman Mitch Andrews suffered what appeared to be a knee injury early in the game, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the contest.

On a positive note, John William’s played his first game since round four as he makes his way back from a knee injury, while 19-year-old Nicolas Steens made his debut after playing 12 Colts’ games in 2013.

On a frustrating day for the Tigers, Tom Ledger pushed his case for a senior recall after finding plenty of the ball, while Jordan Law won the players’ player award.

Another bye appears to have come at the perfect time for the Tigers, with the team to face East Perth at the Showgrounds in round 13.

by Dan Scamozzi

CLAREMONT 2.1 3.3 4.5 8.7 (55)

WEST PERTH 2.5 7.7 11.8 15.13 (103)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 K. KNOTT, H. ROBERTS, 1 J. AITKEN, J. STARCEVICH, J. EBERT, B. HIGGS

WEST PERTH: 4 D. ROHDE, 2 M. JOHNSON, B. WALTON, C. BRANCH, M. FOWLER, 1 B. ANTONIO, M. MCPHEE, C. CHALMERS

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. LAW, T. LEDGER, H. ROBERTS, J. STARCEVICH

WEST PERTH: D. ROHDE, M. JOHNSON, B. ANTONIO, T. SUTHERLAND