Wagga Tigers kicked the final three goals of the game to clinch a thrilling draw against Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Saturday.
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The Goannas’ top three hopes were dealt a serious blow after they let an 18-point final quarter lead slip, drawing 8.9 (57) apiece at Robertson Oval.
Lewis Gooden goalled in the final minute after a 50-metre penalty took him to the goal square and he kicked truly to tie the scores.
That was only moments after Wagga Tigers coach Shaun Campbell launched a torpedo from about 60 metres out that bounced through to put his team within a goal.
It was a big performance from Tigers, who had only won the one game before Saturday, to fight back and share the points with the third-placed Goannas.
“That was a win for us,” Campbell said.
“We’re improving all of the time, it’s great. I can’t really fault them at the moment, especially for a bunch of kids.
“They keep improving each week and even though we didn’t get the win, it was a big step forward for us.
“To have that belief to come back from three goals down, it was super.”
Campbell was the best player on the ground as he produced an inspired performance to lift his team almost over the line.
He won a stack of the ball through the midfield and also went forward to kick four of Tigers’ eight goals.
Louis Beard, Ben Kelly, Nick Ryan and Campbell Lovell also had good games for Tigers.
Pat Killalea was MCUE’s best, while Andrew Dickins was also influential. Brent Arho threatened to win the game for the Goannas with consecutive goals in the last quarter, and had a few scoring shots earlier in the contest.
MCUE coach Travis Cohalan was bitterly disappointed with his team’s performance.
“It’s as good as a loss,” Cohalan said.
“The result aside, we’re not playing well, we’re not playing well at all and we haven’t been for five or six weeks.
“Too many of our guys are happy to go through the motions waiting for someone else to do it and that’s the reality of the situation.
“It’s not good enough.”
To make matters worse for MCUE, Paddy Griffin picked up an ankle injury late in the game.
Killalea also failed to finish the game after a head knock.
The draw puts MCUE two points ahead of fourth-placed Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and with an important trip to Leeton Showground
Tigers cannot make finals and Campbell knows that but he loves the direction his group is headed.
“That should give us a bit of belief and hopefully we can get a couple of wins to finish off,” he said.
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