Eden Tigers Brand Sun

Tigers to good for Bega

August 10th 2009

It was do or die for the defending Premiers the Eden Tigers on Sunday when they took on Bega Roosters. The side that won would be playing in the semi finals next week, while the losers could wax up the surfboards or get the cricket whites out for the summer.

Tigers Captain Coach Michael Geercke knows we still have a lot of work to do to beat Cooma in the semi final this Sunday at Cooma. Behind Darren Griffin Ices the knee to be fit for Tuesday Golf.
As one would expect, the early forward clashes were torrid. Captain coach Mick Geercke and Neil Baker figured prominently with some big tackles.After some early handling errors by both sides the game settled down and moved from end to end with both sides getting to their kicks. The Bega defence was first to crack when the Tigers spun the ball wide and Mick Wykes ran on to a perfect pass from five eighth Matt Bell to score out wide. The Bolton conversion was successful and Eden took the lead 6-0. Bega struck back almost immediately with Matt Parsons crossing adjacent to the posts after he regained a clever grubber kick to lock the scores up.
Matt Bell, son of the Eden tigers legend Michael Bell, is about to stretch out the arm and score another Eden try.
As usual, Edens Robert Horton was revelling in the tough stuff, carting the ball up fearlessly and tacking everything that moved. Matt Bell was directing traffic from five eighth and fullback Liam Wilkinson was providing serious headaches to the Bega defence every time he got the ball. Scott (Hulio) Jackson, who will also be vital in the upcoming finals was also heavily involved, and slipped a beautiful pass to a rampaging Neil Baker to set up Eden's second try which Todd Bolton again converted.
Jackson also featured in the next Eden try, running cross field and passing to the hard running Dane Bamblett who crossed wide out. Again the conversion was successful and Eden led 18-6.
Neil Baker crashes over for a try.
Just before half time a clever grubber kick by Matt Bell was retrieved by Matt Creswick who scored. At half time the Tigers led 22-6 but were wary of the Bega side who were expected to come out firing for the second half to try and extend their season. This concern grew when play resumed and Bega posted a quick try to Tarrantino which was duly converted, and it was game on again.
The desperate Bega side were throwing everything at the Tigers, who withstood every attacking raid and then turned defence into attack. A penalty to Eden for holding down provided the chance for the Tigers to pounce, and it was the old firm of Scott Jackson providing a deft inside ball to a barnstorming Neil Baker which brought the try.
To their credit, the Bega side never gave up and still had a glimmer of hope for a miraculous late comeback when Ryan Apps scored a try to bring the score to 28-14.
Brad Chatfield giving the Bega defence a real headache
The Tigers juggernaut clicked back into gear, and Scott Jackson was at it again shortly after when he put Matt Bell in for the try that broke the Roosters' back and the game looked secure for the Tigers at 34-14.
A late consolation try by Bega's Ben Cogan finished the scoring and the Tigers had triumphed 34-20 in a highly entertaining game.
The experience and unbridled enthusiasm of the Tigers were the telling factors in their victory, and will undoubtedly be a major factor if they are to progress to premiership glory over the next few weeks
The quest to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive premiership is still alive, and all roads will lead to Cooma next Sunday with all three grades featuring in the alpine action.
Tigger
The Bega team has spent a bit of time behind the goal posts in recent weeks.