Railways tame a depleted Denmark-Walpole outfit to all but secure a top-two finish

A percentage-boosting victory against an undermanned Denmark-Walpole all but secured a top-two finish for Railways in the Great Southern Football League on Saturday. The Tigers stormed to their seventh straight victory of the season at McLean Park in round nine, easily accounting for the Magpies, who were missing a host of first-choice players, by 86 points. The result leaves the Tigers four games clear of the third-placed Magpies with a healthy percentage of 228.82 as opposed to the Magpies’ 95.82. It seems likely Royals and the Tigers will fill the top two spots at the end of the home-and-away season. Key quartet Shayne Zanetti, Ash McGrath, Ash Smith and Angus Allen were all unable to play for the home side because of the Perth and Peel region COVID-19 lockdown, while locals Alec Haskins, Tyler Stone, Ryan Gaerth were also missing. Adding to their woes, the Magpies lost star Jayden Woods in the second term to an hamstring injury, and important duo Brody Hickey (concussion) and Jayden Pickett (hamstring) also did not play in the second half. The Tigers jumped out of the blocks and led by 21 points at the first change after kicking four goals in the opening term. Cody Bennell slotted the Magpies’ first. Young key forward Coen Jackman kicked his second goal of the match after the half-time siren to push the margin out to 31 points. The Magpies were held scoreless in the third stanza as the visitors piled on five unanswered goals including a second to captain Bodhi Stubber and Doug Roberts, with the margin blowing out to 68 points heading into the final term. Todd Brown kicked the Magpies’ second goal of the game in the last term but the Tigers added three of their own with Jackman and Roberts adding a third each to finish convincing 14.18 (102) to 2.4 (16) winners. Jackman was a stand-out for the Tigers, while Stubber added two and was a strong contributor in his side’s eighth win of the season. Kane Shephard was a solid performer all game, and Craig Frost and Logan Stubber worked hard. The Tigers lost Fraser Grant to a hamstring injury in the second term. “It was a hard-fought game up until half-time. They were very strong around the ball,” Tigers coach Mark Bayliss said. “It was a very physical first half but our fitness took control against an undermanned side in the second half. “We have secured the opportunity to finish top-two and it’s great for the club. “It was a consistent effort and the club is going in the right direction.” Brown and Bennell were the only goal kickers for the Magpies who failed to find connection going forward. Barry Roberts was gallant in defeat for the Magpies while David Scriven was strong in defence. Sam Finigan and Simon Barker were also among their better players.