Tigers seek further improvement after Anzac victory

Railways player-coach Craig Frost believes his side’s impressive start on Anzac Day where they defeated North Albany by 28 points will mean little if the Tigers cannot produce a similar effort in the next fortnight.

The Tigers maintained their impressive record in Anzac Day matches against the Kangas, skipping clear in the second half on their way to a round 1 win in front of more than 1000 people at Tigerland last Wednesday.

Trailing by seven points at quarter time the home side hit the front midway through the second after a run of three consecutive goals to Zak Hortin, recruit Jayden Scott and returning forward Kenton Gibbs.

Hortin had already kicked five goals before the main break but the reigning premiers were able to hit back late to reduce the margin to six points.

A taxing first half ensured the fierce contest slowed down in the second half as the Tigers opened up a 13-point buffer by three-quarter-time and kicked the only three goals of the last stanza to run out winners, 16.7 (103) to 11.9 (75).

In his first senior game since mid-2016 Gibbs was awarded the Anzac Medal for his brilliant aerial display and three valuable goals, his return the perfect tonic to a functioning forward line that also contained Hortin and a group of hungry smalls.

Zane Marwick was superb in the midfield, especially in the third term, to go with strong contributions from wingman Tom Wolfe and Joel Want, who booted two final term goals.

With a testing fortnight ahead against Mt Barker and Royals, Frost said the Tigers must continue to improve on the season-opening effort.

“It’s a good start but we are always looking to improve,” he said.

“It’s important to start the season well and the next two weeks will be vital.

“I thought for round 1 it was quality footy and the standard was really high.

“Our better ball use was probably the difference and Kenton Gibbs coming back gave us another avenue to goal.”

The Kangas were beaten in the midfield in the second half and could only manage two goals in that period.

Youngster Taj Williams showed great signs from the wing and kicked two goals while co-captain Graham Ross started forward and then was swung back to curve Hortin’s influence and kept him goalless in the last half.

Kangas coach Craig Dew said despite the loss there were encouraging signs especially with their younger players.

“We were soundly beaten in the midfield,” Dew said.

“Our senior mids especially had a dirty day and we missed some chances late in the game that resulted in direct goals at the other end.

“I wasn’t all that disappointed though, there were a lot of good signs it was a totally new back line and the three kids were terrific.”

A serious hip injury to key Tigers midfielder Logan Stubber early in the second quarter and an ankle injury to Chris Miller soured the third straight Anzac Day win for the Tigers.