Eden Tigers Brand Sun

Tiger Cubs Break Stallions

June 14th 2009-By Dave Evelyn

Last Sunday the Eden under 18's took on the Cooma side at George Brown oval. In an entertaining and at times brutal encounter the Eden side gained revenge for the beating they received at Cooma earlier in the season. With a strong line up of reserves on the bench the Tigers were primed for a big effort and played some very good football.
It looked like being a easy win for the locals when rising star Nick Swidruik scored his first try for the Tigers off Eden's first possession, and Nick Rowe's conversion gave Eden a 6-0 lead. From the restart Eden had three hit ups before receiving a penalty, and following some great lead up work by Tyrone Thomas and Chris Challinor, Toby Timms stormed over out wide to take the score to 10-0.
The game then developed into an arm wrestle with both sides dropping the ball and conceding penalties . Cooma missed a golden chance when they dropped the ball over the try line, and were again denied when Tyrone tackled a Cooma attacker into touch metres from the line. Just before half time Eden prop Luke Brown bashed his way over from dummy half and with the conversion from Tyrone the score at the break was 16-0.

John Kendall Pushes over for a try in the Under 18 games against Cooma. Eden won 28-12.
Stand in coach Sheldon Wykes was very pleased with his charges' efforts , particularly their defence, and stressed that it was in that area that they would win the game.The second half began with penalties against each side for high tackles, Cooma were building attacking pressure and scored their first points when Dylan Bodicott pounced on a short grubber kick, and with Zac Smith's conversion Cooma hopes were raised at 16-6.
Eden's livewire hooker Matt Evelyn had made a number of incisive runs from dummy half, and after another dart put Eden on the attack in the Cooma 20. Tyrone Thomas threw a lovely cut out ball wide to Dylan Wheeler who scored. Tyrone was having a blinder and landed the conversion from the sideline.
From the restart a fracas erupted when Eden's John Hunt was on the receiving end of a few short rights which were responded to accordingly. In mysterious circumstances John and his protagonist were both sin binned although Eden received the penalty.
The Cooma bench were an unruly lot and continually bagged the match officials , putting on one of the worst displays of unsportsmanlike petulance seen, and no doubt were partly responsible for their players poor discipline.
After a series of handling errors by both sides Cooma's Zac Smith scored from a bomb and converted to again raise a faint hope for the visitors. That was snuffed out when Eden regained the ball from the kickoff and within two plays big John Kendall, who played a great game, was rewarded with a try which was again converted by Tyrone to finish the scoring at Eden 28 Cooma 12.
This was a fine team effort with everyone contributing. Player players and man of the match was Tyrone, however special mention must go to new player Ryan Severs who debuted with distinction.