The Tigers started with a roar but finished in a whimper against the Centrals Trinity Bulldogs in the first game at Crathern Park this season. North Cairns had the better of a frenetic nine-goal first quarter, kicking five straight goals to lead by three at the first break. But an eight-goal run from the Bulldogs with the wind and a healthy home crowd at their backs first gave them the lead then put the game out of reach in what was a decisive second quarter. They ran away with the contest in the fourth quarter to win by 111, but the game was won in the second term. Leading the way for the Bulldogs was recruit Lee Campbell, who kicked 13 goals. The well-built 39-year-old showed the strength and poise of a much younger man to repeatedly secure the ball in the Bulldogs’ forward 50 before either dishing off or slotting a major of his own. The Sydney Uni import kicked three in his fist outing for the side but will not go unnoticed now after such a dominant display. “He’s a machine isn’t he,” teammate Brent Craighead said of Campbell as the team walked to the sheds in front of a jubilant home crowd. “With any luck he’ll be great for us this year but I guess he won’t fly under the radar now.”
Courtesy of The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 11/05/2011 12:08