Tigers prevail by 3 points in thriller

By Rover, Mirboo North FNC

AFTER knocking over MDU the previous week by four points, Mirboo North prevailed against Fish Creek by three points at Tigerland on Saturday — in a match containing more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose.

To add to the atmosphere, a bumper crowd came to the game and although there was heavy cloudiness, the wind and rain obligingly stayed away.

As pressure built throughout the contest and the ball went hither and thither within the oval, those who dithered, simply withered on the vine.

It was the mighty Tigers’ fifth victory by four points or less from their past 16 home and away encounters since 2019.

The vagaries of Mid Gippsland’s 13-team competition saw Fish Creek on the road again for a third consecutive week and Mirboo North hosting three clashes in a row.

As with all footy matches, mistakes were due to human error, with a bit of bad luck thrown in for good measure.

Fish Creek started unassuredly after recent travails at Meeniyan and Morwell East — with three of Mirboo North’s four opening quarter goals coming via free kicks, that included two 50-metre penalties.

Although Mirboo North established an early 18-point advantage, Fish Creek readjusted itself and closed the gap to five points by quarter-time.

Talented teenager, Beau Peters — who makes football look so easy to play — was brilliant in defence for Mirboo North with four outstanding overhead marks and several ground ball intercepts during the first term.

Other Tigers helping to keep the Kangaroos at bay were Rhys Kratzat, Joel Lambourn, Joe Brooks, Liam Nash, Harley Foat and Jacob Blair.

Mirboo North’s accuracy in front of the big white sticks was exceptional and by the long break the Tigers had booted seven goals without a miss.

As well, the home side was frequently combining intrinsic transitioning with precision foot passing, directly into teammates’ bread baskets.

Just when Mirboo North seemed to have Fish Creek’s measure, Sam McGannon, booted the Kangaroos’ fourth goal and a narrow miss from Adam Bright reduced the Tigers’ half-time lead to 15 points.

The third term began with Hudson Kerr slamming through Mirboo North’s eighth straight goal, but soon after, disaster struck for the Tigers.

Tempers became frayed near the scoreboard, that resulted in Lambourn being yellow-carded until three-quarter time.

After the Tigers’ on-field stocks were reduced to 17, the Kangaroos, with a spare player on the loose, immediately hopped into action, quickly gaining the momentum and trailed by two points at the last change.

Fish Creek’s accountability in defence, creative innovation through the midfield and fast contested ball breakaways had halted Mirboo North’s forward thrusts.

Two Fish Creek goals quickly came off Darcy Berryman’s boot from a 50-metre penalty, then a free kick — before Bright sensationally snapped the Kangaroos’ seventh major from a near-impossible angle.

With Kairon Dorling, Tom Cameron and Jack Hayes seizing the initiative, Fish Creek’s dominance was increasing and the Kangaroos’ confidence became problematic for Mirboo North.

When Berryman — one of the Kangaroos’ engine room prime movers — brilliantly outmanoeuvred two opponents and kicked his third major on the run, Fish Creek hit the front 11 minutes into the final quarter.

Then, in a rearguard foray, Kerr found Ethan Woodall with a precise left-foot pass and the youngster’s gun-barrel-straight 45-metre set shot, restored Mirboo North’s lead.

It was followed by the Tigers’ 10th and last goal from Lambourn — courtesy of a 50-metre penalty and Mirboo North was eight points clear after 15 hectic minutes.

Play was stopped for nearly five minutes when Fish Creek’s Owen Schnoor was crunched in a pack and stretchered from the ground, after injuring his back.

With no one left on its interchange bench, Fish Creek bravely battled on with a closing goal coming from Jack Hayes following another 50-metre penalty, that saw the Kangaroos fall agonizingly short of victory.