Lions lick wounds after Tigers torrent

Railways have all but secured the minor premiership in the Great Southern Football League after handing Royals a 57-point thrashing at Centennial Stadium on Sunday.

A dominant nine-goal-to-one second-half came after the Tigers arrested the momentum from the Lions late in the second term to go on and win, 15.14 (104) to 6.11 (47).

The Lions began sprightly and led by as much as 18 points in the second quarter on the back of the dominance of big man Andrew Ruck who returned from injury.

But the Tigers booted the last three goals of the quarter to lead by five points at the major break after captain Bodhi Stubber kicked truly on the siren with a long 50m bomb.

From there the Tigers were dominant, booting the next six majors of the match and kept the Lions’ goalless in the third term to set up the convincing win.

Despite only trailing by 23 points at the final change, the Lions’ hopes were quickly dashed as the Tigers piled on the next three goals to kill-off the contest.

Ruck finally ended the goal drought with his second major midway into the final term and without his influence up forward and in the ruck the Lions would have faced a heftier defeat.

The Tigers once again found an even spread of contributors and goal kickers with Tom Palfrey bobbing up to play his best game of the season to finish with four goals including three in the second half.

The consistent Kenton Gibbs (two goals) again shone in attack while wise heads Stubber and Haydn Sproxton held firm in defence.

The Lions were well served by Ruck, Corey Ward and Cent Amores but lacked any potency after half-time as their percentage took a another hit.

Their hopes of hanging on to fourth spot ahead of Denmark-Walpole now appear more likely to be decided in the final round against the Magpies.

The Tigers remain two games clear on top of the table with two rounds of the regular season to play with a home second semifinal beckoning along with a grand final at Tigerland.