WAGGA Tigers returned to form in resounding fashion with a 95-point thrashing of Turvey Park at Robertson Oval on Sunday.
The first three quarters proved a clinic for Tigers as they ended a two-game losing streak in devastating style, winning 17.14 (116) to 3.3 (21).
Tigers set the standard right from the opening bounce with three goals in the first six minutes and 11 unanswered scoring shots for the quarter.
Turvey Park’s backline fought gallantly under extreme pressure but the Bulldogs rarely were able to get the ball past the centre line with a lack of options up the ground.
With a 115-point lead at three-quarter-time, Tigers shook things up in the final term and that it when the Bulldogs rallied.
Turvey Park kicked their first goal of the game four minutes into the final term and managed to keep Tigers scoreless for the entire quarter to finish the game on a brighter note.
It was much-needed too as the Bulldogs starred down the barrel of the lowest score in Riverina Football League history, which is understood to be 1.6 (12) held by Ardlethan on August 24, 1986, in their final game before switching to the Farrer League.
After only scoring seven and nine goals in their losses to Coolamon and Griffith, Wagga Tigers captain-coach Matt Rava was pleased to see his team hit the scoreboard hard.
“After a couple of tough weeks for the club it was good to get back on the winner’s list obviously,” Rava said.
“Hopefully we take a bit of self belief that we do have the ability to kick some goals and that sort of thing.
“That’s probably been the major thing over the last couple of weeks, that we haven’t rewarded ourselves up front so hopefully we played ourselves into a bit of form today for the next couple of weeks which are definitely going to be tough.”
Regular ruckman Brad Graham started deep in attack and several other options were tried up forward throughout the day as Tigers produced 17 goals in three quarters.
John Anstee was outstanding for Wagga Tigers in a best-on-ground display.
Full-time
WAGGA TIGERS (116)
5.6 9.11 17.14 17.14
TURVEY PARK (21)
0.0 0.0 0.1 3.3
Goals: (Wagga Tigers) J Buchanan 4, A Durnan 3, N Ryan 3, M Rava 3, S Flanigan 2, F Inglis, J Osbeiston; (Turvey Park) D Campbell 2, F Doherty.
Best: (Wagga Tigers) J Anstee, J Osbieston, A Durnan, S Flanigan, F Inglis, L Myers; (Turvey Park) J Brooks, D Campbell, J Haggar, T Doyle, J Fletcher, J Donaldson.
