Tigers Defeat Thunder In Style / Round 6 Reserves Match Report

Claremont have joined Subiaco on four wins and one loss, after defeating Peel Thunder by 83 points at the Showgrounds, 18.15 (123) to 7.8 (50).

The Tigers were led by Jordan Aitken who kicked four goals, while Liam Smith and Shane Mcadam each kicked three.

There were warning signs for the Thunder early on when Aitken kicked the first of his four majors barely two minutes into the contest.

Kiefer Yu was then forced from the ground under the blood rule after taking a courageous mark.

Behinds to Matthew Davies and Aitken followed before Coleman Cristinelli was well set up by Ben Daniher to kick his first goal, giving the Tigers an early 12 point lead.

A turnover in the Tigers defence handed the Thunder their first major and the margin was reduced to seven points.

A late snap by Ben Higgs gave the Tigers their third major and with it a 14 point lead at the first break.

It was a dominant opening term by the Tigers, including 14 to seven inside 50m entries, 24 more disposals, and four more scoring shots.

The second term started much the same as the first, with Henry Roberts and Liam Smith kicking early goals, which saw the Tigers race to a 25 point lead.

The Thunder replied through Nick Gajewski, before Smith kicked his second goal after being set up by Yu.

The Thunder responded through Reise Wilkey, before man-of-the-moment Smith kicked his third for the quarter as both teams traded goals.

When Yu was awarded a 50m penalty after being crunched by Rhys Anzellino, he kicked the Tigers eighth goal, extending the lead to 33 points.

Late goals to Jayden Brooks and Shane Mcadam (after the siren) saw the Tigers lead the Thunder by 45 points at the long break, after kicking seven goals to two for the quarter.

The Thunder broke the trend of the opening two terms by kicking the opening goal of the third quarter through Liam McKenna as the result of a 50m penalty.

The joy was short-lived, however, as goals to Mcadam (second), Alex Manuel, and Aitken (second) saw the lead blow out to 61 points at the last change.

The Tigers were now looking to finish off the game in style, although the Thunder kicked the opening goal of the last term through Wilkey (second).

The Tigers hit back through a second goal to Roberts, before the Thunder responded through Jesse Hockings.

Two quick goals to the best-on-ground Aitken and further majors to Michael Trevenen, and Mcadam (third) saw the Tigers run out big winners.

Aitken was superb all day, tallying four goals, seven marks and 18 disposals, while Roberts, Daniher, Dean Blackwell, and Bernard Sneeuwjagt all won plenty of the ball.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the win was the Tigers winning every quarter, while their 19.8 disposals per goal compared to the Thunders 44, highlighted the efficiency and skill execution with ball in hand.

South Fremantle await the Tigers next Saturday at Fremantle Oval.

Bounce down is at 11.25am.

by Dan Scamozzi

CLAREMONT 3.4 10.8 13.13 18.15 (123)

PEEL THUNDER 1.2 3.5 4.6 7.8 (50)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. AITKEN, 3 S. MCADAM, L. SMITH, 2 H. ROBERTS, 1 K. YU, C. CRISTINELLI, M. TREVENEN, B. HIGGS, J. BROOKS, A. MANUEL

PEEL THUNDER: 2 J. HOCKINGS, R. WILKEY, 1 M. GREEN, L. MCKENNA, N. GAJEWSKI

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. AITKEN, S. MCADAM, L. SMITH, S. EDWARDS, B. DANIHER, H. ROBERTS, D. BLACKWELL

PEEL THUNDER: L. MCKENNA, M. GREEN, A. FIELD, K. WESTWOOD