Coburg ran out 5 point winners at Trevor Barker Beach Oval against the Sandringham Zebras in an Easter Sunday clash that went right down to the wire.
It was a see-saw tussle in the first half with the Tigers taking a 4 point lead into the main break which saw the lead change hand on a number of occasions.
Angus Graham slotted a terrific goal from the boundary line 35m out in time on in the 3rd quarter to give Coburg some breathing space and an 18 point lead heading into 3-quarter time.
By no means were the Zebras out of it but with early goals in the 4th quarter to the Tigers, including Addam Maric running into an open goal, it seemed a formality that Coburg would take the points.
Coburg lead by 6 goals heading into time on in the final quarter. The home side however had not conceded. With the crowd behind them, the Zebras peppered the goals and were successful and with one of the Burgers best players off the ground with a broken nose (Matt White) the Zebras threatened to snatch victory.
But it was too little, too late for Sandringham and relief for Coburg holding on to win by 5 points in a thrilling encounter.
Coburg head into their bye with 2 wins from the first 3 matches and will head down to Frankston on Sunday the 22nd of April to take on the Dolphins who are yet to post a win for 2012.
Sandringham Zebras 3.3 6.4 9.6 15.8 (98)
Coburg Tigers 3.5 6.8 11.12 14.19 (103)
Goal Kickers: Sandringham: Wilkes 5, Cockie 2, Saad 2, Peake, Cook, Shenton, Curren, Dunell, Siposs
Coburg: A.Maric 3, Jordan 2, N.Maric 2, Derickx, Venditti, White, Webberley, Graham, Wheeler, O’Hanlon
Best Players: Sandringham: Dowler, Shepheard, Wilkes, Ferguson, Hallahan, Curren
Coburg: Rayson, A.Maric, Dea, McGuane, Webberley, Graham
Best Player Awards
1st – Damien Rayson
Pizza Popolare Voucher
2nd – Matthew Dea
Pizza Popolare Voucher
3rd – Matthew White
Subway Fawkner Voucher
In the Development League match earlier in the day both sides ran out to take the field, yet to experience a loss so far this season, with both sides looking to keep their perfect records in tact.
The Tigers got out of the blocks quickly and at quarter time had a 33 point lead and never really looked back.
David Fahey lead the defence and was rock solid throughout the day, not allowing the Zebras’ forwards to impact the scoreboard particularly in the first half keeping Sandringham to 3 goals.
Coburg took a 58 point lead into the main break and while the forwards were brilliant for most of the day, Sandringham won the 3rd quarter keeping the Tigers to 1 goal however the damage was done and Coburg continued to inflict pain on the Zebras in the last quarter.
Rowan Hore presented as a terrific forward target the whole day with a 4 goal contribution, while small forwards Gibson Turner, Dylan Murphy and Louis Egger each chipped in with 3 goals.
Coburg eventually ran out comfortable 52 point victors and kept their undefeated record. The Development League side will also have a bye this coming weekend and then join the senior side in tackling the Dolphins in Frankston on the 22nd of April
By Bernard O'Dwyer
Sandringham 2.2 3.2 7.8 11.8 (74)
Coburg 7.5 12.6 13.7 19.12 (126)
Goal Kickers: Sandringham: Coleman 2, Smith-Cameron 2, Brown 2, Sands, Michaliades, Stapleton, Mavric, Widdowson
Coburg: Hore 4, Egger 3, Turner 3, Murphy 3, Thomas 2, Cartelli 2, Iudica, Brandt
Best Players: Sandringham: Webster, Widdowson, Brown, Mavric, Sands, La Rocca
Coburg: Fahey, Thomas, Hore, Murphy, Cole, Younan
Best Player Awards
1st – David Fahey
2nd – Nathan Thomas
3rd – Rowan Hore
4th – Jason Cole
5th – Dylan Murphy
Subway Fawkner Voucher
Last Modified on 11/04/2012 15:23