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Tigers better get a bigger boat- mauled by sharks
Eden 36 Moruya 50
May 27th 2012 by Dave Evelyn
The Great Southern Inn eden Tigers took to the road last Sunday travelling to Moruya to take on the resurgent Moruya Sharks. In the hot conditions the Tigers never really got their act together as they stumbled to a 50-36 loss. As the scores indicate, defence on both sides was fairly lax, but the real difference was in handling, where the butter fingered Tigers seemed incapable of completing their sets.That was the simple story of the game.
In the first half Eden completed 11 sets from 20 posessions as a series of dropped balls and bad passes saw the attack repeatedly break down and pressure come back on the Eden defence. Moruya's first try was a class act and a signal of things to come when the classy Aaron brierly threw a pass that cut out two attackers and gave winger Conolly a clear run to the line down the Tigers right hand side defence.Eden were unluckily held up over the line in the next setwith good defence by the Sharks, to be denied a quick reply. Moruya then scored immediately from the restart after a clever kick downfield saw Cain Brierley score to put the Sharks out to a 12-0 lead.The Eden restart went dead ingoal, and from the goal line drop the Tigers livewire fullback Dylan Fletcher scythed through the defence to touch down. The Smith conversion brought the Tigers back to 12-6..Eden began to show some application and actually completed a couple of sets to go deep into attack before an intercept saw a length of the field try to the Sharks. A penalty then saw Eden go on the attack and the unstoppable Billy Michelin stormed across for a good try to bring the score to 22-12. Tigers import greg Nicholson scored a good try leading up to the break, but just when the Tigers fans were feeling a bit comfortable with the break imminent Moruya launched yet another raid down the Togers right side and came up with a converted try to take a 28-18 ead into the break.
CC Leigh Hennessy was less than enthusiastic with the Tigers performance in the first half and stressed the need to control possession in particular.Missed tackles and dropped ball were costing the side dearly. Unfortunately the Eden side couldn't comply with the coaches instructions when play resumed. Eden dropped the ball on the first set and Brierly again made them pay, putting through a deft kick to set sam Howlett up for a try. A good run by Hennessy saw Eden awarded a penalty and go on the attack, with Dylan Fletcher picked up a short kick tand race in his second try. Unfortunately, Moruya hit back again quickly to score two tries after two Tigers handling errors and the game was virtually out of reach for the Premiers. Leading up to full time the Sharks held a 50-24 lead, but late tries to Smith, and Dylan Fletcher's third for the day put some respectability into the scoreline.
The tigers only completed 5 sets from 15 posessions in the second half, a statistic that tells the story. A side cannot expect to be competitive with that sort of completion rate. Not only is it hard to score without the ball, but the defence is forced to make far too many tackles, which definitely took its toll on a hot day in Moruya.
In a game marred by handling errors the Moruya side showed that they are right in the mix for the 2012 title, while the Tigers have some serious work to do to rectify their game. In such a close competition the side needs to be on the job every week because every win , and possibly points for and against, could be crucial in qualifying for the finals. For the Tigers fullback Dylan Fletcher was outstanding, while Dylan Wheeler never stopped trying and had a very strong game. The senior players Michelin, Smith, baker and McBain all put in huge efforts, as did Captain leigh hennessy in the unaccustomed role of hooker. For the Sharks Aaron Brierley was outstanding. This guy is a real class act and will have a huge influence in the Group 16 premiership this season.
Next week we take on Tathra at Tathra in what should be another testing encounter.
Tigger