Tigers and Busso take it to the wire
Written by Neil Mattinson Wednesday, 16 June 2010 09:27
FMR Tigers 2 v Busselton Redbacks 2Busso v Margs. The mere mention of this clash would bring a snarl and a smile to the faces of any players who value the virtues of what such rivalries can produce in a human at even this tender age.
The Redbacks had not conceded a point this season and the Tigers have been quietly going about their business as each week passes remembering what our first round loss felt like.
A physically dominant Busselton side was matched by the Tigers who were well coached by Paul Harney to play with the right amount of confidence and aggression to match their opponents. With our more decorated players in Josh Brown, Brendan Clark, Sola Takahashi-Curt and twins Liam and Riley Demunari leading by example it wasn’t long before the rest of the team settled into a very mature and calm game plan.
Our midfield was holding firm in defence and transitioning well into attack which gave Busselton something to think about out wide with Rory Stephenson and Liam providing plenty of run. Ryner Koster was well held in the center of our attack but this can often be the way to free up other players like Creed McKinnon who had a few chances fall his way which the Redbacks goalkeeper was called on to stop at least one hot chance.
Our young backline flankers were miserly as was Conor Aitken-Lombardo who was having a blinder in goals. Busselton had to work hard to hit the front with a well taken goal midway through the first half. We went to the break 2-0 down but with a heap of belief that we were very much still in this contest.
Our reserve players were not used much in the first half but the wise old preacher delivered his half time sermon and shocked the opposition with some staff changes that cracked the Busselton defence not long into the second term. Clarky moved to striker, Brown to the backline, Ryner, Jed Mattinson and Linus Robison all paced the sideline. Enter Jack Kneebone, Hamish White and (player of the day) James Hewton and “checkmate”; you have an unlikely solution. A well worked play saw the ball fall to Sola’s feet in the 18 yard box and time seemed to stand still as he calmly shifted the ball onto his right foot and made light of a pressure situation and delivered Margs a well earned goal.
There was still a mountain to climb and another strategic move got Browny out of defence and into a more attacking role where his power shot to level scores with about ten minutes to go meant fingernails were now under serious threat of disintergration. Ryner reinjected on the left flank kept our attacking pressure on and our defence was holding firm with James, Jack and Hamish playing giant games.
Brendan was unlucky not to score from close range and Ryner was finding he has another string to his bow which was great to see. This was a truly great, team performance that the boys can be proud of.
“The 2 tier competition was created with the anticipation of creating games that could produce the quality of that which we have just witnessed”. Paul Brown- Association President.
Well done to the players and coaches of both teams.
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