The Jacaranda Hotel Grafton Tigers notched up there first win of the season over the weekend with an impressive victory over the Port Macquarie Magpies. The Tigers win was the first against the Magpies in almost 10 years according to some of the clubs older players.
In a tight opening quarter Grafton took an early lead by 2 goals, kicking 7 goals to 5. However it was the second term that Grafton hit there straps, young onballer Dale Beaver ran the Magpies players off there feet kicking 2 of his 8 goals, while Captain Dan Zacek and Will Darby were marking everything that came there way across half Forward. At half time the Tigers had doubled the Magpies score leading 82 to 38.
Port Macquarie won the Premiership in 2007 and still had a few players from that time as well as a few up and coming stars like Jesse Smidht who kicked 6 goals for the game, so it was inevitable that they would come back hard in the third quarter. They kicked 3 out of the first 4 goals of the term to narrow the gap, but Grafton fought back and steadied with a couple of goals mid way through. Grafton wanted this win, you could see it in there body language, they worked well as a team, running the ball from the half back line, through the centre of Ellem Oval and kicked long to the tall Forwards Hugh OâToole and coach Grahame Blackwell. If they didnât mark it the small Forwards in Scott Onus (4 Goals) and Dale Beaver were there to mop up the crumbs and kick Grafton ahead again at the three Quarter time break.
Grafton lead by 8 goals going into the last quarter and Coach Grahame Blackwell reminded his chargers of all the times in the past that Port kicked away to beat them by 15 to 20 goals, he wanted his men to get revenge for the past and give Port the same feeling in return. He didnât want them to get back into the game; he demanded that if Port kicked a goal Grafton had to kick the next to not give them a chance. Port only managed 1 goal to Graftonâs 5.
Dale Beaver was far and wide Graftonâs best; there were many players that deserve a mention. Ruckman Zac Edwards worked tirelessly all day to give the Tigers fist use of the ball, Ryan Sheather, Justin Darby and Bryce Kurtzman were again strong in defense and youngsters Ben Gardner and Jack Walder also showed that they will be the future of the Club.
Graftonâs task only gets harder from here, they face last seasons premiers the Sawtell saints next week in a game that will really test there new found confidence. Sawtell have had an indifferent start to the season, loosing there first game against North Coffs in a grand final rematch, but then bounced back well in the last 2 weeks with good wins over Port Macquarie and Nambucca. The game is again at Ellem Oval with the Ray White Reserve Grade starting at 1pm and the seniors kicking off at 2:30.
Last Modified on 12/05/2009 11:32