Tigers retain sixth place despite home loss to Hillsmen

By Rover

HILL END moved off the bottom of the Mid Gippsland ladder with a rock-solid 35-point win over Mirboo North at Tigerland on Saturday.

In better news for Mirboo North, the mighty Tigers maintained sixth position on the table, following Thorpdale’s thrilling one-point victory against Tarwin at Shark Park.

Mirboo North wore its purple and gold colors from 50 years ago, as part of its annual football and netball past premiership players’ reunion day.

Both teams came into the round 15 clash refreshed, after having byes the previous week.

Light raindrops fell at the start of the match and continued intermittently thereafter.

A feature of Hill End’s victory was its first nine shots at goal going through the big white sticks without a miss.

Mirboo North closed a 10-point quarter-time deficit and led by four points midway through the second term.

Then, from the 17-minute mark onwards, the visitors kicked three consecutive goals to take a 12-point lead into the half-time break.

With unquestioned skill and endeavour, Harry Moore, Aaron Fawcett, Amburupa Uliando and Callum Paul had begun to stamp their authority on the contest for Hill End. 

As paradoxical as it may sound, Hill End suddenly found a bold foothold on proceedings, through its reliable overhead contested marking. 

Even more importantly, the Hillsmen hunted the ball harder and gathered it more cleanly and more often than the Tigers.

Although Mirboo North added three goals in the third quarter, it was unable to prevent the Hillsmen recording 5.6, that gave them a 30-point advantage at the last change.

It was here that Hill End proved beyond any reasonable doubt that effective disposals are priceless in a game of football. 

Even the most argumentative footy fans in the land – and there are plenty of them – can’t disagree with that. 

All around the ground, Hill End’s sure ball handling and accurate disposals, plus its fierce tackling, were first class.

The Hillsmen’s impressive play had many Mirboo North spectators wondering why – that prior to their visit to Tigerland – they had won only one match for the season. 

Mirboo North was unable to make any headway in the final term, where Hill End’s Chad Owen ran into an open goal to kick the only major for either side.

Best performers for Mirboo North in its disappointing defeat in the damp conditions included skipper Hudson Kerr, Harry Mahoney, Ethan Woodall, Riley Oddy, Beau Peters and Hayden Barnes.

Mirboo North heads to Stony Creek this Saturday for a must win against the Lions, in order to stay in the top six.