Wagga Tigers reinforced their position on top of the Riverina League ladder with a 40-point victory over Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong on Saturday.
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Tigers made it five wins on the trot with a comprehensive victory over the fourth-placed Lions, 13.10 (88) to 7.6 (48) at Robertson Oval.
The Lions upset Tigers earlier in the year when Jethro Peck goalled after the siren to give his team a one-point victory.
Tigers had to wait nine weeks for redemption but they certainly got it and proved why many rate them the team to beat for this year's premiership in the process.
Tigers established a 19-point lead by half-time but put GGGM to the sword in the third quarter with five unanswered goals.
The Lions reduced the margin in the final term but the damage was done.
Wagga Tigers coach Troy Maiden was happy to get the points against quality opposition.
"It was really good. I was quite pleased with it," Maiden said.
"It was slippery, wet and windy. It was just one of those days where you had to keep cracking in.
"We knew it was going to be fairly physical and I really wanted us to match them in that area, their intensity around the footy, and I thought we did. It was really good.
"You've just got to keep getting the ball forward in those conditions and I thought we handled it pretty well."
Tigers' win, as well as victories for Griffith and Coolamon on Saturday, keep the three teams locked together at the top of the ladder. It is only Tigers superior percentage that has them on top.
It also now creates a three-game buffer between the top three and the chasing pack.
Maiden conceded the win over the Lions helps Tigers' cause.
"You look at the ladder before today and we were a couple of games ahead of Ganmain. Now the win puts us three games ahead of fourth and fifth so in the scheme of that, it was important," he said.
"But that's not our focus at the moment."
Maiden has said all year that Tigers' focus is on improving each week.
Given they finished eighth last season with just two wins, and now sit on top of the ladder after 12 rounds, it is fair to say Tigers have improved.
Maiden is happy with how they are travelling.
"There are areas in our game that when we played them out there they smashed us in. One of those areas was around the contest and in that area we certainly improved," he said.
"I thought we matched them in that area, which was really important."
Tigers ruckman Tom Osmotherly was named the home team's best player in his big battle with GGGM opponent Jacob Olsson.
Tom Keogh, Jesse Manton, Xavier Lyons and Bailey Wileman were others to shine for Tigers, who had an even spread of contributors.
The only sour note for Tigers was an ankle injury to Reid Gordon, but early indications was that it was not too serious.
The result gave GGGM consecutive losses for the first time this year. With other results going their way, they remain a game clear in fourth spot but it sets up a massive game against Collingullie-Glenfield Park next Sunday at Ganmain Sportsground.
Aaron and Scott Proctor were the Lions' best, while Ben Walsh finished with four goals.
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