Eden Tigers Brand Sun

Eden Tigers pluck two premierships from Bega Roosters

Sept 12th 2008-from the Imlay Magnet

History was made on Sunday when the Eden Tigers earned the Group 16 premiership over the Bega Roosters in First Grade and Reserve Grade at Bega Recreation Ground.

First Grade crushed the Roosters by 24 points, the Roosters gaining just one converted try. In the previous game, Reserve Grade won by eight points at 36 to 28, after opening with a flurry of tries.

Victorious Tigers: Ian Smith, Robert Horton, Billy Michelin, Chris Bingham, James Lockwood, Scott Jackson, Michael Geercke, Matt Creswick, Tom Bell, Todd Wright, Matt Bell, Wade Irvine, Lincoln Stewart, Corey Stewart, Mark Spink (Reserve Grade coach), Brian Rowe, (front) Liam, Darren and Jake Griffin, Todd Bolton, Harrison and Neil Baker, Brad Chatfield, Mark Miller (captain-coach), John Aldridge

After his final appearance for the Tigers, First Grade captain-coach and man of the match, Mark Miller, thanked the team that gave its blood and sweat alongside him to earn a third premiership in three years.

The Tigers defeated Bombala in 2007 and the 2006 side defeated Cooma.

Reserve Grade five eight, 17-year-old John Aldridge, scored two tries and was presented with man of the match, before running onto the ground for a game with First Grade. It has been 27 years since Eden and Bega First Grades met on a grand final day, when the Tigers came away the victors.

The last time Bega defeated Eden in a grand final was in 1971 and it has been seven years since their last premiership.