Tigers End Losing Streak/Round 15 Reserves Match Report

Claremont (Reserves) has ended a four-game losing streak by holding off a fast-finishing South Fremantle at the Showgrounds.

In a pulsating final quarter, which saw multiple lead changes, the Tigers clawed their way to a two-point victory 11.10 (76) to 11.8 (74).

On a beautiful day for football the Tigers made a promising start and registered the first goal of the game through Luke Cameron after a wonderful overhead mark.

The hosts then added four consecutive behinds as wayward kicking in front of goal failed to convert early dominance on the scoreboard.

The Bulldogs would make the Tigers pay for their missed opportunities, as Bailey Matera made it one goal apiece late in the first term.

A goal to Jackson Starcevich after the quarter-time siren resulted after some wonderful desperation from Sam Lamont as the Tigers took an 11-point lead into the first change.

Coach Nigel Wilson was happy with the players’ intent and work rate, however, he implored his side to win the contest and take their opportunities in the second term.

The message seemed to have worked wonders, after Darcy Cameron marked and goaled to give the Tigers a 17-point lead.

The Bulldogs responded through a goal to Josh Pullman after an easy transition from defence, however, the Tigers hit back courtesy of a goal to Ben Taylor after some fantastic build up play by ruckman Josh Tilley.

Further goals to Steven Edwards and Starcevich (second) saw the hosts out to a 24-point lead at the 21-minute mark.

However, the Bulldogs would have the final say of the first half, as a 50m penalty resulted in a goal to Stephen Borovac, reducing the margin to 18 points in favour of the Tigers at half-time.

The second half saw the return of League captain Jake Murphy after a four-match absence with an achilles injury.

In typical style, Murphy threw himself straight into the centre-square action as the Tigers made a fast start through a goal to Henry Roberts after some neat work from Edwards.

The Bulldogs hit back through Myles Bolger as the hosts conceded another 50m penalty, before a further goal to the visitors saw the Tigers’ lead trimmed to 12 points at the 13-minute mark of the third term.

The hosts responded through Tilley after a wonderful squaring-pass by Kiefer Yu, however, the Bulldogs hit back once more through a goal to Emmanuel Collard after another easy transition, this time through the middle of the ground.

A second goal to Collard four minutes later saw the visitors close to within six points after having the better of the third term.

The Tigers had the chance to extend their lead after the three-quarter time siren, however, Keegan Knott could only register a behind after being set up by Murphy, giving the hosts a seven-point lead at the final change.

Injuries to L. Cameron and Coleman Cristinelli meant the Tigers were two men down heading into the final quarter.

The Bulldogs seemed intent on making the most of their numerical advantage as goals to Pullman (second) and Josh Branchi saw the visitors hit the front for the first time in the game.

The Tigers hit back through a goal to Murphy before extending their lead to two points after a behind to Taylor.

The Bulldogs, however, would reclaim the lead after a goal to Ben Sokol at the 23-minute mark of a see-sawing final term.

The Tigers would then reclaim the lead after a wonderful goal from man-of-the-match Yu, before Knott pushed the lead out to 8 points at the 25-minute mark.

A second major to K. Matera set up a thrilling finish, however, the Tigers would hold on for a pulsating two-point victory, and in the process gain some revenge for a one-point loss in the corresponding fixture back in round seven.

In a further boost, Murphy got through the second half unscathed, while League teammate Aaron Holt was a solid contributor after returning from a hamstring injury.

The win sees the Tigers with a 7-6 record after 13 games, and one win outside the top four.

Injuries to L. Cameron and Cristinelli will be monitored throughout the week, as the pair push their case to take on Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium in round 16.

CLAREMONT 2.5 6.5 8.8 11.10 (76)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.0 3.5 7.7 11.8 (74)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 J. STARCEVICH, 1 D. CAMERON, S. EDWARDS, K. KNOTT, L. CAMERON, J. TILLEY, K. YU, J. MURPHY B. TAYLOR, H. ROBERTS

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 2 E. COLLARD, J. PULLMAN, K. MATERA, 1 B. SOKOL, M. BOLGER, B. MATERA, J. BRANCHI, S. BOROVAC

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. LEDGER, K. YU, S. LAMONT, D. CAMERON, A. HOLT

SOUTH FREMANTLE: S. BEWICK, M. CARTER, B. FIMMANO