A FEW wise heads and some youthful exuberance proved the perfect blend for Wagga Tigers as it claimed the reserve grade premiership with a 31-point victory over Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Sunday.

Tigers had too much class at crucial times for the inaccurate Goannas as they ran out winners, 13.6 (84) to 6.17 (53) at Narrandera Sportsground.

Tigers started strongly to open up a handy lead early in the contest, but MCUE proved its worst enemy as some bad misses in front of goal cost them from getting back in the contest.

MCUE kicked four consecutive behinds during the middle stages of the second quarter and then again kicked five-straight behinds in the third quarter only for both times the ball to go straight up the other end to result in Tigers' goals.

Both were on the back of a mountain of possession for the Goannas and proved pivotal points in the contest.

In the end, the experience of the likes of Nathan McDonald, Andrew Priest, Damien Papworth and Justin Rynehart shone through as Tigers produced the goods at the right times. McDonald was awarded the best-on-ground medal as Tigers claimed their third reserve grade premiership in the past four years.

Tigers' coach Justin Rynehart was relieved to get the job done.

"It was a battle," Rynehart said.

"We ground away at it, we put a lot of pressure on them that made it miss.

"They're pretty quick, but when we had it, we moved it well and thought we were a lot better at it.

"We did that just enough to win."

Rynehart was happy with the mix of youth and experience.

He thought a few of the older players had a big influence on the contest.

"They were just smart to go to the right spots at the right time," he said.

"Especially when it wasn't going our way, they were going to right spots.

"It was the young blokes when we had the ball and used it well, they were the ones that were running for us, but it was just good to have the old heads to go to the right spots.

"That's what seconds is, having that right mix of young blokes and old blokes."

For Rynehart, it was the perfect homecoming to Wagga Tigers after a decade away at The Rock-Yerong Creek.

"It's really exciting, to come back and coach my junior club to a seconds flag," he said.

"I'm excited and chuffed."

It was a disappointing result for MCUE, its fifth consecutive grand final defeat in reserve grade.

Pat Maher and Dusty Rogers were two players that never gave up for the Goannas.

For Tigers, while the experience was telling, Nathan Cooke, Ben Farrell and Jade Hodge were instrumental in the Tigers' victory with their run and attacking flair.

Full-time

WAGGA TIGERS (84)

4.1 5.3 10.5 13.6

MANGOPLAH-CUE (53)

1.0 3.4 4.14 6.17

Goals: (Wagga Tigers) M Etchells 4, A Priest 3, J Larwood 2, J Hodge 2, J Gunning, J Wolf; (MCUE) M Byrne 2, A Pleming, S Griffin, C Huthwaite, J Tancredi.

Best: (Wagga Tigers) N McDonald, J Larwood, J Hodge, N Cooke, B Ryan, T Halse; (MCUE) J Raves, S Balding, P Maher, A Pleming, L Davis, T Cohalan.