Third term blitz leads Kangas to tribute win

A 10-minute burst in the third term which yielded four unanswered goals has guided North Albany to a 15-point win in the sixth edition of the Warrick Proudlove Tribute Match played in wet, contested conditions at Tigerland on Saturday afternoon.

The Kangas retained the perpetual shield in the process and levelled the ledger at 3-3 in the special fixture between the two clubs which raises funds and awareness for the former Kangas and Claremont footballer, who was seriously injured in a car crash in 2011.

Scores were level for much of the first half before Tigers youngster Tom Wolfe put his side seven points up after kicking his first major with 46 seconds left in the second term.

After wins over Royals and Mt Barker in the past fortnight the Kangas were on the end of a vicious verbal spray from coach Craig Dew who was unimpressed by their first-half display.

However the tirade kicked the Kangas into gear as Kris Ericson opened the second half with a 60m bomb that rolled through only for bustling Tigers big man Shane Braimbridge to restore order at the other end.

The Kangas though would break the game open with a 10-minute flurry as they kicked four quick majors — three to Luke Cameron and the other to skipper Graham Ross, as they took a 19 point advantage into the last change.

Cameron was instrumental to the Kangas taking charge as he continued to find space inside the forward 50, marking strongly and kicking truly as the Kangas eyed a fifth straight victory.

Wolfe ran into an open goal to kick his second as the margin was trimmed to 13 points early but the lively Jesse Wynne goaled to ensure the Kangas would prevail, heavy rain falling in the last as the visitors prevailed 10.8 (68) to 8.5 (53).

Midfielder Brock Ramsay was superb, especially around the stoppages in the first half, and kicked two vital goals while Jack McPhee found plenty of the ball.

Dew was pleased with his side’s second half response in tough conditions.

“Obviously I was not pleased with the first half,” he said.

“We got complacent in the first half, they were harder than us, their work rate was better and we were just lazy.

“After half-time we controlled the game more and I thought our forward set up worked really well in trying conditions.”

Despite the Kangas slipping back to third after the completion of round 11, Dew said his side, who would regain Matt Orzel, Alec Haskins, Brent Clarke and Jack Steel, were aiming high.

“We want top spot and the home second semifinal,” he said. “The best thing is Mt Barker, Royals and ourselves have destiny in our own hands.

“If you win the last four you will finish on top.”

The Tigers were best served by ball magnet Zane Marwick and his brother Coen who impressed in the midfield, while Joel Want was a shining light with two goals.

Midfielder Nic Cramer was chaired from the ground after playing his 150th league game for the Tigers in the loss, and they also lost Ethan Knee to an ankle injury.

Tigers player-coach Craig Frost said the third quarter was again an issue for his side.

“Their third quarter was much better and our skills let us down,” he said.

“Their pressure was really good and their forwards were more dangerous.

“It does make it very hard to finish top two, we have to win every game.”

The umpires awarded the game ball, as part of the Proudies Day, to the Barnett family after the recent passing of Paul Barnett.