Round 10 Match ReportBy Glenn Robertson
PORT MELBOURNE v COBURG TIGERS
TEAC OVAL
SATURDAY 20th JUNE
The Burgers travelled down to Teac Oval on Saturday to take on Port Melbourne on a fairly cloudy and dark day. Both sides sat equal on the ladder with five wins apiece with the Burgers having a couple of key inclusions into the team including Joel Bowden and Mark Coughlan. However the Borough were minor favourites heading into the match. Craig McRae took over the reins as the new Burger coach and after a week off the boys were firing and ready to impress.
A 2-3 goal wind was favouring the far end to which the Borough would kick to first. However it was Coburg who looked the better team early on but could not convert it on the scoreboard, booting the first three points of the match. Nat Caruso looked lively and laid a couple of fierce tackles, while Bowden and Daniel Connors racked up the possessions.
Port kicked the first major of the game after thirteen minutes and from then on added three more before Bowden kicked Coburg’s solitary goal for the term just before the siren.
Coburg Tigers 1.3 (9) Port Melbourne 4.4 (28)Port kicked an early goal in the second term before some great courage from Nick Carnell caused a spillage for Jay Schultz to slot his first major. Connors unselfishly passed to Glen Carrick who converted and after Tim Clarke kicked a great running goal the Burgers were looking the goods. But Port had other ideas and finished the term off strongly kicking multiple goals to take a thirty eight point lead in to the main change. Although it wasn’t all good news for the Borough as they had two players stretchered off during the first half.
Coburg Tigers 4.4 (28) Port Melbourne 10.6 (66)Coburg made costly errors early in the third term that lead to Borough goals and made it very hard for any chance of a resurgence. Jarrod Silvester battled hard at full back all day and created run out of the backline. He set up Tim Clarke’s second goal, which was followed by majors to Andrew Horne and Schultz midway through the term. The Burgers battled well into the breeze finishing the quarter evenly with three goals a piece. Joel Bowden was brilliant playing off the wing picking up disposals at will and also having a handful of goal assists. Coming home with the mild breeze the Burgers were still a slight chance to pull off a memorable victory.
Coburg Tigers 7.4 (46) Port Melbourne 13.9 (87)Unfortunately the Borough came out firing after the small break booting consecutive goals in the opening minutes and putting and killing off any thoughts of a burger comeback. Tim Clarke was again a standout for the Tigers using the ball wisely and he also finished with three majors for the match. Mark Coughlan was great in patches as was captain Nick Carnell, but after a five goal each final term the Borough ran away with a forty five point victory.
This week sees the Burgers return home to ABD Group Stadium to take on ninth place Sandringham on Saturday starting at 2.00pm. Coburg currently sit in seventh place on the ladder with five wins. The Reserves sit in fifth place and also take on Sandringham starting at 11.10am.
Coburg Tigers 1.3 4.4 7.4 12.5 (77)
Port Melbourne 4.4 10.6 13.9 18.14 (122)
Goal Kickers: T. Clarke 3, J. Schulz 3, A. Horne 2, J. Bowden, G. Carrick, N. Caruso, A. Browne
Best Players: T. Clarke, J. Bowden, N. Carnell, J. Silvester, J. King, M. Coughlan
RESERVESThe Tiger Reserves held off a fast finishing Borough side to win by four points. After leading by three straight kicks at the main change the boys held on for a gutsy highly entertaining victory late in the match.
Andrew Raines was brilliant for the Burgers running off half back and through the midfield collecting 39 possessions, while Graeme Polak also was a standout playing his best game for season 2009. The goals were shared around for the Burgers with Alroy Gilligan the most prolific up forward booting four majors.
Coburg Tigers 2.2 8.7 12.10 15.14 (104)
Port Melbourne 2.5 5.7 11.8 15.10 (100)
Goal Kickers: A. Gilligan 4, R. Allan 2, C. Hughes 2, A. Raines 2, J. Bassi, J. Hislop, M. Kellett, J. Horne, N. Cattapan
Best Players: A. Raines, G. Polak, C. McErlain, N. Cattapan, B. Clifton, A. Gilligan
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