Tigers Inaccurate - Again

Liam Nye takes a screamer

On a sunny Willunga afternoon, Yankalilla and Willunga played fast-flowing, attacking football. The first quarter was goal for goal. The home-side maintained forward line pressure for the first 5 minutes and were rewarded with a Nobes goal. Yank retaliated when Athanasos and Thompson combined to equalize. Two Willunga defensive mistakes allowed the Tigers to roar forward and convert. A long goal by Thompson was a beauty. A goal off-hands to the dynamic Sam Renney and a precise Renney pass to Draper brought Willunga within 2 points but a scintillating run and bounce from defence by Thompson found Puautjimi loose in the goal square. His goal put the visitors 8 points clear at quarter time.

Willunga dominated the second quarter and kicked 6 goals to one. Nobes had a purple patch: he kicked three goals one behind in quick time. His height proved too much for the Tiger defence. Draper’s height and strong marking also proved a problem. Nye’s hard running and skillful use of the ball, often in heavy traffic, was outstanding. It took until the 18-minute mark for Yank to kick a major through Puautjimi. K Kantilla, Athanasos and Gaskin fought hard for the Tigers and restricted the dangerous Willunga mid-field until the irrepressible S Renney broke free and kicked a major. Minutes later, Nobes was awarded a free kick then a 25-metre penalty to goal after the siren and give Willunga the lead 9-2 to 5-5.

Scores could easily have been level at three-quarter time but for the Tiger’s inaccuracy in front of goal. Yankalilla dominated the premiership quarter. After majors to Puautjimi and Whittlesea in the first 5 minutes, the Tigers kicked a string of 8 behinds. Most of the shots were from within 30-metres and under very little pressure. Ker, Kim and Karison Kantilla, Parsons and Athanasos attacked the ball and big sticks and set up Yankalilla teammates but the goals failed to materialize. By contrast, the Demons made the most of their limited forays forward. Nobes kicked two after precise passes from Jake Renney and Hams. The Tigers continued to attack for little reward. By contrast, Willunga’s Dumesny, took the ‘no risk, no reward’ approach. He managed to tackle one of the elusive Kantillas and win a holding-the-ball decision then ran from defence and delivered the ball to Hams who passed to Nobes: the big man kicked his 7th. Willunga went into three-quarter time leading by 21 points, 12-4 to 7-13.

The last quarter belonged to Willunga. S Renney found Draper on the lead at the two-minute mark: he goaled. A minute later Stark snapped truly in heavy traffic. Haskett and Dumesny defended furiously and stymied several Tiger attacks. The ball rebounded into the Demons’ forward lines and resulted in goals to Draper, Bass and Saunders which put the game beyond the reach of the tenacious Tigers. At one stage in the final quarter the scoreboard read 16-7 to 7-16. Inaccurate kicking for goals hurt the visitors’ cause, not for the first time this season. If they can find the middle of the big sticks, they will be a dangerous opponent to any team. On this occasion, however, Willunga ran out winners by 58 points.

By Alan Tucker