Tigers rev up for shot at crown

Tweed Coast Tiger Ash Gemmil leaps above the Magpies during an impressive win at Pottsville Oval.

BLAINEY WOODHAM

TWEED Coast Tigers are semi-finals bound after racking up their 15th consecutive win of the Summerland League in Pottsville on Saturday.

Beaten only once this season, in Round 2 by the Byron Magpies, the Tigers turned the tables on the Magpies at the weekend to prove their season has been a success.

Skipper Jai Pursell said the Tigers were switched on from the outset on Saturday and capitalised on early opportunities.

“We had a really good break in the first quarter and it set the game up for the win with 20 goals and 120 points,” he said.

“The next two quarters were quite even but the last quarter really saw us run away with the game.”

Tim Wells was strong in defence for the Tigers while Ash Grunwald had plenty of touches.

“After the last couple of weeks of some close calls, the team was really committed on the day,” Pursell said.

“We played with a lot of intensity and the forwards created a lot more pressure compared to the last few weeks.

“The back line was strong and we’ve had a good even team over the paddock.”

With everybody escaping Saturday’s match without harm, and with three players expected to return this week from injury, Pursell said players would be under pressure to keep their positions in the starting side.

“I’m sure the coach will be looking for commitment leading up to the first game of the semi-finals,” Pursell said.

“We’re not too sure who we’ll play in the first final and we are taking each day on its own merit at the moment. Being a new club and the newcomers to this environment, we just have to keep going as we have.”

The competition front-runners will take on Nimbin in the final round of the regular season on Saturday before the finals series commences the following week.

Pursell said the Tigers’ first real shot at a premiership meant everyone would need to keep focused.

“Nimbin have the opportunity to prove themselves here,” Pursell said.

“It is going to be a fiercely competitive game with a few of their players out for rest, there will be others coming into the game looking to prove something.”

In other weekend results, Ballina downed Lismore 12.12 (84) to 9.13 (67) and Nimbin won by forfeit over Coolangatta.