ROUND 12 of Western Border football saw the top-of-the-table clash played out in atrocious conditions at McDonald Park.
East Gambier hosted North Gambier in what was hoped to be a window into the finals series, but Mother Nature had different ideas.
However, it did show the determination of both sides to win the football at all costs.
In the end just three points separated to two sides, with the Tigers claiming the points and top spot on the ladder.
It was a game that fluctuated from term to term, with the Bulldogs holding the advantage after the opening stanza.
The rain started to fall heavily as the Reserves were about to wind up, with the wind swirling across the ground.
An arm wrestle ensued, with neither side able to make a decisive contribution on the scoreboard.
A couple of early behinds to East were reward for hard work, but the Tigers attacked and applied the pressure through the likes of youngsters Declan Carmody, Brad Close and Hamish Telford.
Jesse Fry worked hard down back, but eventually a chip forward from Nick Blachut found Tom McLennan in front for a set shot and the first major of the day.
However, East soon responded with some good linking play from John Forster, Kane Ransom and Fry for a goal of their own.
Kevin Thomson stood up soon after with a major from a set shot in the pocket and suddenly the game was on in earnest.
With the ball skidding off the deck from long kicks, meaningful disposal was important, but the muddy conditions saw physical contests, with Thomson gaining a free kick in front of goals for his second and the Bulldogs’ third to open the margin.
Carmody claimed a major for the Tigers before the first break and the hosts held an eight-point advantage.
From there North started to apply the pressure, with Nick McInerney breaking free in the centre of the ground with timely clearances.
Soccer appeared to be the game of the day, but taking possession from the muddy surface was more difficult.
North eventually found a goal to break the deadlock and the scores were tied up going to the long break.
The first five minutes of the second half saw a goal-a-piece, but little more.
The desperation had not subsided and it paid off late in the term for the Tigers, with a goal to McLennan to open the margin to seven points going in to the final stanza.
The Tigers seemed to gain the upper hand for much of the quarter, with the Bulldogs playing catch up.
Jake McKeon helped that cause no end when he soccered deep into the Bulldogs forward line, where Shem Balshaw took possession then bent a goal home for the equaliser.
However, a couple of behinds and another major saw the Tigers break free again.
With 19 minutes gone in the term, North appeared to settle to protect its nine-point lead, but East was not content to lie down and continued to push hard.
With the final siren imminent, Fraser Scanlon stepped up for East, banging home a goal to reduce the margin to three points.
With just seconds remaining, the ball was bottled up on the Bulldogs’ half forward line, but time ran out and the Tigers rejoiced.
For North coach Winis Imbi it was a pleasing win, not just for the premiership points or top position on the ladder, but for the effort in the wet.
“Regardless of whether we won or lost I was really happy with the intent and the desire from the boys, because obviously it was tough conditions,” he said.
“It may have been said we may not be the best wet weather side, so it was great that it poured and we had a real slog – it was a good box to tick.”
The second quarter was pivotal in the Tigers’ victory, with much of the attacking play.
“I think in that quarter we had 13 entries to three,” he said.
“We weren’t really rapped with our conversion or ability to keep it in there, but obviously things were going right defensively.”
While East had plenty of forward possession, Imbi said it was a credit to his players to be able to defend under pressure in the wet conditions.
In the end he said it was a good test for his side.
“We have been kicking eight goals in opening terms and this time around we were behind after the first quarter, so it was a good test of character,” he said.
“It was a good test of the system we try to play and we are walking away from the game with things to improve, which is a good thing.”
