Tigers and Lions roar for finals position

IT SEEMED like it was going to be an interesting day down at the Foster showground, with the rumble in the jungle between the Lions and the Tigers. 

Foster was looking to lock down a top four position coming into finals, while the Creek were hoping a win today could keep the finals dream alive for them.

From the first bounce, Foster showed why they were a top contender for a final hunt this year, with a large amount of early pressure on the young Creek backs. 

But they turned the tide themselves, putting some pressure back on the kicking from the forwards, causing some missed opportunities.

Stony, however, weren’t helping themselves either at the other end with some wayward kicking from set shots not helping them on the scoreboard. 

It took 15 minutes for Foster to find their opener, and they looked to put the jets on after that, kicking another three in quick succession to lead by 20 at the first break

It didn’t take long for Foster to try to extend their margin, kicking their first of the second very early off some good kicking from Michael Green, one of his four for the day. 

The battle in the midfield also intensifying, with the contest between Darcy Atkins for the Creek and Billy Flavelle for Foster showing some smart kicking and ball movement. 

However, the third didn’t pan out like the home crowd would have like, with Stony coach, Jay Accardi, obviously putting the fire under his team. 

Coming out like a bull at the gate, backed up by some solid defensive pressure from the likes of Jacob Byrnes and Troy Sinclair, they were able to claw back the margin, cutting it in half, while keeping Foster scoreless. 

Leading the charge was Dylan Zuidema, who patrolled the 50 well, and kicked very straight to record six for the day himself. 

Coming into the last break, the wind was behind the Creek and with only 17 points the margin, it was still up in the air. 

Foster however, to their credit, put plans into place and showed their structure again in the last, showing the team they had been before the third. 

High midfield pressure coupled with some good forward attack game the home side an extra five scoring shots for the last quarter, which they used to their advantage. 

The Creek never stopped battling in the last, but they were outdone by a team that has its sights on a premiership this year. 

Coming into the last round, Foster stay home to face the Hillmen in what looms to be a finals type clash, while Stony head down to Meeniyan for the arch-rivals clash against the Demons.