| News | Gallery | Ladder | Fixtures | Heroes | History | Archive | Contact | Sponsors | Links |
Reserves Unlucky
Eden 26 Cobargo 32
August 13th 2011 by Dave Evelyn
The Tigers reserve grade side faced up to the visiting Cobargo Eels on Sunday in their last hit out before the finals next week. The Cobargo side are near the top of the table and are one of the favourites to win the title, but the Eden side put it right to their vaunted visitors in a tough and exciting match. The contest started at a hectic pace with both sides completing. Eden held a lot of possession early on but the Cobargo defence was up to the task. Cobargo did make two line breaks but both times Matt Evelyn's covering defence snuffed out the chances. When the Tigers did finally score it was Kane Richardson who crossed after regaining a kick by Dylan Wheeler to take a 6-0 lead. Ryan and Corey Walker and Graeme White were very solid in defence, but it was Cobargo who scored next to level the scores at 6-6. Towards the end of the half Matt Bell kicked a beautiful 40-20. From the ensuing scrum Eden received a penalty and Ryan Walker was unstoppable in storming over for the try which was converted by Andrew Love, giving the Tigers the half time lead 12-6.
The second half began badly for the home side as Cobargo's Anderson scored after Cobargo's kickoff found the in goal, putting pressure on immediately. The next Cobargo try was one of the more bizarre seen at the Eden ground in years, with a Cobargo player clearly offside allowed to pick up the ball and race the length of the field to score a try which, after the conversion , took the score to 18-12. Eden struck back almost immediately when big Ben Holding crashed over, but the conversion missed. Two sets later Cobargo received a penalty and managed to score another try by Emmerton to extend their lead to 24-16.
The Tigers were never going to give up, and an invigorated Matt Bell speared over for Eden's next try to bring the Tigers back into the game at 24-20 and bring a glimmer of hope to the crowd, who were enjoying the spirted contest.As the contest entered its final stages penalties were being delivered like conservationists lies, but when Matt Evelyn sprinted through the tiring defence to score and Bell converted to bring the score to 30-26. Some rather ordinary sportsmanship ensured that play was delayed for over a minute , denying the Tigers any chance of a last second fairytale victory.
Coach Kevin Campbell congratulated his charges on a great effort and encouraged them to be committed over the next few weeks to give themselves a chance to take out the title. The side will be playing Cooma in Cooma next Sunday in an elimination semi-final. Goodluck boys