Wagga Tigers hold on against bottom-placed Crows | Photos

Entering the game in fourth sport with a 4-4 record, the Tigers withstood a late Crows surge to prevail 7.11 (53) to 7.8 (50).

In a game which Stephenson described as almost a carbon copy of last week's scrappy two-goal loss to Collingullie-Glenfield Park, the Crows kicked four-goals-to-one in the final quarter to fall just short of their second win of the season.

A win was a non negotiable for the Tigers, who are looking to stave off the Demons and Turvey Park in the race for the last two finals spots on offer.

They also face a tough road trip to unbeaten Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes next week.

"It was heart in your mouth stuff and it was a very similar game to Collingullie last week, eerily similar," Stephenson said.

"We controlled a lot of the ball and field position, but our inability to put it between the big sticks really hurt us.

"We had that buffer at three quarter time, which was really helpful ion the end. They got their tails up and made a game of it.

"The hardest thing is we're doing so much right, but we're not getting the reward by kicking goals and it's hurting us. If we can sort that out I think we controlled the game.

"They were in the contest all day and credit to them because they stuck it at us all day, but we've got to be better in front of goal and going inside 50.

"If we do that we could put that game to bed at three quarter time instead of holding on in a nailbiter."

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The win was made even more important after Collingullie-Glenfield Park joined them with a 5-4 record with a win at Griffith on Saturday.

Defenders Lewis Waters and Reid Gordon were named among the Tigers' best and Stephenson said the defence held up well aside from some lapses late in the game.

"The ball came in a bit and we defended pretty well, I'd say for three-and-a-half quarters," he said.

"We made some poor decisions late in the game we need to address with some guys. When a game is at the tight stage that it was, there's different things we should look at doing.

"But for most part of the day the guys at the back did a good job."

A knee injury to the in-form Nathan Cooke was the only injury concern to come from the match for the Tigers.

"I don't think it's too serious because he came back on, but he didn't end up finishing the game," Stephenson said.

Wagga Tigers 1.3 3.6 6.8 7.11 (53) def Leeton-Whitton 0.1 3.3 3.6 7.8 (50)

Goals: Wagga Tigers - Patrick Ryan 2, Nathan Cooke, Jock Cornell, Samuel McNaughton, Joshua Staines, Cooper Pavitt; Leeton-Whitton Crows - Tyron Rainbird 2, Hunter Booth 2, Harrison Steele, Angus Boulton, Bryce O'Garey

Best: Wagga Tigers - Lewis Waters, Cooper Pavitt, Reid Gordon, Shaun Flanigan, Jock Cornell, Nick Ryan; Leeton-Whitton Crows - Thomas Meline, Joshua Thomas, Sam Darley, Alex Daly, Bryce O'Garey, Ryan Grey

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