Goals Rain For Big Bomber In Wet Weather Win
Lauderdale continued their winning ways on Saturday with a scrappy 24-point win over the Tigers and while it was weather more suited for the small forwards, it was a Bomber big man that stood tallest; TSL Digital Media Reporter Ryan Rosendale writes.
The winter weather was well and truly on show this past Saturday at the Twin Ovals as Lauderdale made their second trip down the highway to take on the Tigers this season; and while Trent Baumler’s men were hoping to atone for their Round four loss, it was the Bombers who once again claimed victory.
Heading into their previous encounter the Bombers were sitting 0-3, yet after their 13.9 (87) to 9.9 (63) victory on Saturday, last year’s grand finalists have now won three in a row and sit in fifth position with a respectable 5-5 score line.
“It probably wasn’t looking good early in the year when we had those key injuries and we lost the first three but there’s been a couple of games there, especially both Clarence games, where we fell down in the last quarter and could have won,” Bombers star Josh McGuinness said post-match.
“To win three in a row now is good; it just gets that confidence back up again and we know if we can play our game style that we can beat any team on our day like we did last year.”
“So, I guess it’s okay considering we were 0-3 but there’s still a fair bit of improvement to come.”
The win came on the back of a stellar performance by Alex Hill who, in his 150th game, finished the contest with 5.2.
“Probably not a day for big fellas and he ends up catching the footy, kicks five and he probably could have kicked seven if not for a couple of behinds,” McGuinness said.
The opening half of the contest was well and truly hampered by the conditions and while it was an equal ball-game at quarter time, the Bombers were able to hold the Tigers goalless in the second to head into the long break 17-points up.
“I thought our back-six was good in the second quarter (to keep the Tigers goalless) but we probably didn’t capitalise on that as much as we would have liked. We had a lot of footy forward, but it was a bit of a stoppage game.”
“Then in the third-quarter, towards the end there, the Tigers brought the heat, but I think we kicked a couple of late ones just to steady us but to the Tigers credit throughout the day they kept coming,” McGuinness said.
Tigers coach Trent Baumler was in agreeance with McGuinness and while he again spoke about the minor defensive lapses that have cost the Tigers a number of games this season, he couldn’t be happier with the effort provided by the group.
“We can’t question our effort and playing the game out, especially over the last three weeks. We are playing the game out, we are able to score, and we keep coming.”
“The point I’m making to the boys is that if you keep presenting and you keep doing the right things, eventually that does turn, and we will start to get some positive results in terms of the win-loss result,” Baumler said.
Along with Hill, Bombers midfield-bull Phil Bellchambers was again one of the best on the ground, while Tigers gun Will Campbell was his usual ball-winning self after losing midfield partner Ryan Matthews in the first quarter to a nasty injury.
“That looks like a broken collarbone,” Baumler said post-match after an initial diagnosis from the ambos.
“He’s gone straight to hospital so a few of the boys will head up there and check in on him.”
Baumler said that he didn’t expect Matthews to feature for a number of weeks, which is a major blow for the group with games against Launceston, Clarence and North Hobart to come.
In positive injury news for the Bombers, McGuinness said that Thor Boscott had returned to some light-training with the main group but that there was still caution around when he would return as they prepare to face North Hobart this Saturday from 2:00pm at Lauderdale Oval.
Tigers 2.2, 2.6, 5.7, 9.9 (63)
Lauderdale 2.2, 5.5, 9.9, 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Tigers: H. Thompson 2, L. Graham 2, E. Burrows-Cheng 2, H. Johnston, M. Davies, M. Carter
Lauderdale: A. Hill 5, H. Kerinaiua, J. Williams, B. McGuinness, J. Gillbee, H. Smith, J. Fisher, T. Mosquito, E. Stanley
BEST
Tigers: W. Campbell, L. Graham, H. Johnston, S. Rice, B. Gordon, B. Rees
Lauderdale: P. Bellchambers, A. Hill, O. Shaw, B. McGuinness, T. Mosquito, H. Smith
