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Tigers go down in Cooma
Eden 27 Cooma 30

June 24th 2012 by Dave Evelyn

Reigning group 16 premiers the Great Southern Inn Eden Tigers suffered a disappointing defeat when they travelled up the mountains last Sunday. Despite ominous weather forecasts all week the Eden contingent arrived in Cooma and basked in sunshine. When the game got underway it only took a couple of minutes before Eden's Neil Baker stormed across the tryline off a good ball from Smith to open the scoring and momentarily silence the rather vocal Cooma fans. On the resumption Cooma struck back immediately with a fairly soft try to Jade Rowley to level the scores. As the game began to open up play fluctuated from end to end with both sides completing until Cooma received two questionable penalties in successive sets to go on the attack, and ultimately score when Josh Treddicoe touched down after a clever kick through to put the Stallions in the lead 10-4.

When play resumed Eden received a rare penalty before turning possession over to Cooma. The Eden supporters and players were stunned when Cooma were awarded a 40-20 when it was clear that the kicker was outside the 40 metre line. The Tigers withstood the Cooma attack and were rewarded when evergreen winger Darren griffin crossed out wide and Dylan Fletcher slotted a great conversion to level up the scores at 10 all. Cooma then received three penalties in quick succession to go on the attack before Brian Cronin eventually scored to give the home side a four point lead. Eden received a penalty just before half time which put them firmly in attack and led to a good team try scored by centre Tinson. At the break the Tigers held a 16-14 lead.

Captain Coach Leigh Hennessy was fairly happy with his sides efforts in the first half but urged them to strive for better ball control and to dominate in the rucks. The second half opened with Cooma on the attack, and in short time they had crossed for a try to take the lead 20-14, sending the raucous Cooma crowd into raptures. They were quickly silenced at the sight of Eden's legendary Corey Stewart running on for the first time this season to assume the dummy half role. This seemed to spark the Tigers into action, and when Darren Griffin put up a bomb after an extensive backline move the mercurial Stewart flashed through and took the kick on the full and sprinted over for a special try.The Fletcher conversion levelled the scores at 20 -20.

The Cooma side appeared to be tiring, but they were not about to give up, even after Eden's livewire fullback Fletcher scored the next try from dummy half after good lead up work by Shaq Aldridge, Greg Nicholson and WBH Smith. The conversion saw Eden lead 26-20.

The Tigers went on the attack again but seemed to suddenly lose the plot, and on the last tackle a pass flopped out the back of the ruck found new English import Reece Lazenby in some open territory whereupon he decided to kick a field goal.Now Reece is a nice lad, and he does some very good stuff on the field. But this was an ugly field goal, albeit one that SHOULD HAVE SEALED A Tigers victory.

The Eden supporters present at the game will never forget the sequence of events that took place as the match reached an unlikely climax.

With eight minutes to go Eden were in possession and held a 7 point lead. We turned the ball over. Cooma were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and Tyrone Finlow scores to bring Cooma back to27-24. Then Cooma are awarded a penalty for a late tackle on a kicker. Then Cooma receive a penalty for a strip. Then Cooma receive a penalty for offside. Then Cooma receive another penalty after a fracas. Then Cooma's Jim Boller scored the inevitable try off the last play of the game to snatch a victory for the Stallions with the final score 30-27.

For the Tigers Baker, Michelin, Lazenby, Holding and big Wade Irwin did a ton of hard work.Dylan Wheeler did his usual perpetual motion effort and got through a mountain of work. Smith looked dangerous whenever he had the ball in hand, and Fletcher was again good at fullback.Young stars Aldridge and Jioe Stewart also had good games.

Next Sunday we take on the Pambula Bombala sides in reserves, firsts and ladies in what will be another entertaining day of rugby league in Eden.

Tigger