Wy Yung has moved back into second place on the East Gippsland Football Netball League ladder after a scoring a dramatic two-point victory over arch rival Lucknow during round 14 last Saturday at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve.
Both teams are now locked on 11 wins, but the Tigers jumped to second courtesy of a superior percentage. They both sit four points below Boisdale Briagolong and four points ahead of Stratford.
Lucknow led by two points at three quarter time, but the general perception at the ground was that the Tigers would be kicking to the scoring end in the final term, giving them a slight advantage in a tight and tough contest which never saw more than 10 points separate the sides all day.
Enter mother nature, who from nowhere whipped up a three to four-goal breeze favouring the home side, which threatened to mar what had been a high quality contest, dominated by the competition’s two best defensive units.
In an exciting 30 minutes of football, the Tigers only went inside 50 on three occasions, but remarkably it was enough to win the game as their miserly defence continually cleared the ball from inside the Lucknow attacking zone, only for the ball to return shortly after, often with a deeper entry.
The Tigers hit the front when some Brodie Anderson class and poise found Jack Betts who converted his third major of the afternoon.
The Magpie forward entries continued to add up as time on approached, Norm Betts playing an astonishing match clunking an impressive 19 contested marks, constantly repelling attack after attack while keeping one of the competition’s most dangerous forwards, Jackson Smith, under check.
Betts was well supported by Mitch Toms, Joel Waters, Ridge Peters and Nate Somerville, the latter who kept Dallas Smith relatively quiet.
Through sheer weight of entries Lucknow was able to get back in front, a clever kick from Jackson Smith on the boundary line in the dead pocket finding the hard working Joel McNamara in the goal square, who kicked his second for the match.
Not to be denied the Tigers continued to work the ball forward, though they were struggling to get it past the centre with the strong breeze holding up a lot of kicks that weren’t short and direct.
Eventually Wy Yung crept one through, which found it’s way into the hands of Jobe Somerville, who kicked truly, putting the Tigers back in front.
He had been an important player for the Tigers throughout the match, playing at centre half forward and pinch hitting in the ruck when Brad Daniel needed a break.
His effort to get on top of Magpie coach Shaun Mooney early in the third term caused a reshuffle, with Magpie high flier Jessie Pescod having to come back into defence after impressing at centre half forward in the first half. That certainly made life easier for Norm Betts.
With time running out, Bayley Croucher marked 12 metres out from goal for the Magpies. He has a chance to put his side in front, however his kick skewed left, the siren going shortly after, the gleeful Tigers home in a classic game of local football.
The crowd on hand might have felt uncomfortable in the cool conditions, but they got to witness something special with arch rivals going at it, neither side leaving anything out on the ground.
Veteran Tigers coach, Rod Bills, was in awe of the performance of Norm Betts.
“That’s as good a game of local football as I’ve seen a backman play, he marked everything,” Bills said.
Earlier in the match, Lucknow had the majority of the scoring opportunties in the first term, scoring the only major when Brendan Flinn kicked truly after dodging and weaving around opponents.
His fellow small forward Damian Hodder limped off shortly after with a torn hamstring.
Tiger ace Nathan Dennison would sit out the second half with a similar injury, but it certainly didn’t look as bad.
His absence could be covered by Sam Stewart or Tommy Stephenson who both impressed in the reserves.
Pescod was looking dangerous as were the Smiths, with Glenn Perkins playing on the wing giving them plenty of drive.
The eight-point lead to Lucknow at the first change flattered the Tigers.
They began to get some mojo in the second quarter, with Daniel beginning to get on top of Dion Grace in the clearances, the Tigers peppering the goals, similar to Lucknow in the first, except they were more effective kicking four goals to two, opening up a nine-point break at the main change.
In that second term players such as Jock Overend, Bayden Ashwood and Harry Kellow ran riot creating plenty of chances for Jack Betts, Aaron Hanuera, Brodie and Jake Anderson.
Stevie Bertino, Andrew Nelson and Jack Saulle all worked hard deep in defence for the Magpies.
Revitalised after the break, it was Lucknow’s turn to attack, kicking four goals to two in the premiership quarter to regain the lead by just two points.
Ash Smith and Ryan Halford came into the game, helping out McNamara and Perkins, who was relishing playing back on the wing after stint forward in the second term.
Promising youngster Connor McAuliffe also came into the game, while a Tim Keyte ruck infringement and resulting 50 metre penalty brought the crowd to its feet.
Best players for the Tigers were Norm Betts, Daniel, Jobe Somerville, Ashwood, Overend and Nate Somerville, while the Magpies were best served by McNamara, Saulle, Pescod, Bertino, Nelson and Ash Smith.
