Tigers roar back to claim Skinner trophy
by Rover MIRBOO NORTH regained the Ron Skinner Memorial Trophy from Newborough, with an 83-point eclipse of the Bulldogs, at Tigerland on Saturday. The match took place in idyllic 16-degree sunshine on a lushly green-grassed surface, where any...
by Rover
MIRBOO NORTH regained the Ron Skinner Memorial Trophy from Newborough, with an 83-point eclipse of the Bulldogs, at Tigerland on Saturday.
The match took place in idyllic 16-degree sunshine on a lushly green-grassed surface, where any Holstein milking cow would have most contentedly chewed her cud.
Triple senior premiership representative, Josh Taylor, booted three goals in his 250th match for the mighty Tigers, that automatically earns the ‘Blonde Bombshell’ MNFNC life membership.
Right from the start, Mirboo North was on a mission to keep alive, its challenging hopes of featuring in this year’s Mid Gippsland finals.
The Tigers were strengthened with talented teenager, Clancy Snell’s inclusion, plus the return from injury of skipper Hudson Kerr and giant ruckman, Patrick Lewis.
From go to whoa, the relentless running of Jesse Chila, Ethan and Archie Woodall, Snell, Kerr and Ben Heath, literally ran the Bulldogs off their feet.
Down back, Beau Peters, playing coach Damien Turner and Jacob Blair’s combined cohesion, limited Newborough to three goals for the day.
As well, Mirboo North’s fervour in the packs was further evidence of the Tigers’ will to win the contested ball at
all costs.
At the main break, Mirboo North was well on the road to victory with a lead of 39 points, after allowing Newborough only two goals in the first half of the match.
Battling hard for the visitors were Tyler Peters, Anthony Daley, Jack Edebohis and Peter Ainsworth.
A dominant third quarter from the home side saw it kick another five majors, whilst limiting the Bulldogs to three behinds only.
The Tigers were going so well that even the odd mistake here and there didn’t seem to matter too much at all – because back-up support was always on hand at the next contest.
Mirboo North recorded 3.5 in the final term, with the last goal of the game fittingly coming from Josh Taylor, on a tight angle in the dying moments.
Earlier, Ben Van Dyk brought up Newborough’s third major, after marking strongly inside the Doggies’ forward 50.
Afterwards, milestone man Taylor was carried from the field by Riley Oddy and Kerr, through a guard of honour, comprising other Mirboo North teammates and their Newborough opponents.
This Saturday, Mirboo North tackles fifth-placed Thorpdale, where the annual Bright-St Ellen Memorial Shield will be decided at the Thorpdale Recreation Reserve.
