Picture: FRANK MONGER
NORTH Gambier defied tipsters on Saturday when it took to its fortress at Vansittart Park for a solid 22-point win over East Gambier in round 13 of Western Border football.
The Tigers were on the hunt from the first centre bounce and it was clear from the tackling pressure in the opening minute they were hungry for the win.
Noticeable outs from both teams were East playing coach Matt Willson, who was expected to make his return after a suspension, but coached from the sidelines and North’s Matt McInerney, who
made the trip down from Adelaide, but did not gear up for the match.
However, the Tigers found a replacement for the powerhouse forward as Sam Stafford stepped up to new heights.
The home side started strong to kick the first three goals of the match, as Hamish Telford made an impact early with two majors and a free kick saw Nick McInerney also convert.
Eventually the run was put to an end when Giancarlo Cooper scored his first of five goals at the 12-minute mark.
Another East goal followed, but Stafford took a daring two-on-one mark and scored to relieve some pressure.
Stafford was impressive to say the least and he went on to bag five majors and claim the best-on-ground honours at the end of the day.
At the first change the margin was 11 points, but the Bulldogs reeled in the deficit in the second term to head into the long break up by 13.
Cooper opened the second term with a goal, while North coach Justin McConnell converted a free kick in response, before East stringed together four unanswered goals.
However, the Tigers regrouped at half time and returned to the fore, scoring four goals to the Bulldogs’ one in the third.
Stafford converted the first for the quarter, before McInerney scored his second to put North two points behind.
When the returned Dylan Munn marked inside 50 and scored the Tigers returned to the lead.
At the final change North held a 12-point advantage and despite East’s good start to the fourth quarter – which was opened by another Cooper goal – inaccuracy proved its downfall.
North regained the momentum and while Cooper converted his fifth major to narrow the margin, Stafford replied with another impressive kick of the Sherrin.
The win was a must to remain in the fight for a top-spot finish and McConnell was pleased with the result.
“We knew we were going to be up against it, there was no question about it,” he said.
“We were really disappointed in our effort and a few things around our intensity and work rate last week.
“But the guys responded really positively and put in a really good four-quarter performance.”
He said the Tigers were disappointed with the second quarter, but gave credit to East for their intensity heading into half time.
With a list of starting players out of the side due to injury, McConnell described the game as a “real blue-collar workman-like performance”.
“In times when injuries do occur, blokes get opportunities, so guys like Jordy Hatt come in and he played a really pivotal role for us,” he said.
“Some guys on Saturday came up and really rubber stamped their spot in the side going forward.”
Michael Telford upheld his recent form and put in a big effort off half back, taking several intercept marks at pivotal moments.
However, Stafford’s standout display made him the only option for North’s best on ground.
He was a ball magnet all day and took several big marks against the odds to lead the Tigers’ forward line.
Nick McInerney was his usual hard-working self, while the likes of Mayson Ashby and Brett Shepherdson also received a mention from their coach.
For the Bulldogs, Cooper was rightly named as best, while Nick Lock did well to limit McConnell to just two goals.
Matt Scanlon was also a dominant presence, while Jayden Eldridge worked hard through the ground.
This week the Tigers face West Gambier in a battle for top spot, while East heads across the border to face Casterton Sandford.
