By Trevor Waterhouse
The Tigers have suffered a heartbreaking last-minute loss at the hands of the Parkes Spaceman at a chilly Pioneer Park on Sunday, July 26.
Needing to win to keep our semi-final hopes alive the Tigers were courageous and seriously deserved a way better outcome than they received.
Some of the calls we received at crucial stages were dubious to say the least. To a man the Tigers effort was top shelf. They left nothing out there and it was a very disappointed dressing shed at the end.
Coach Evo was full of praise for his team for the way they fought back to hold the lead with three minutes left on the clock. They did everything but win and despite going down can hold their heads nice and high.
Jak Jeffery was as good as I’ve seen him this year. He was a constant threat to the Parkes middle. He and Mitch Cleary have built up a handy combination and they tore Parkes to pieces at times.
The final score saw the Tigers go down 26-22 in a result that’s real hard to swallow, but like they say: “that’s footy”; and I’m sure Evo will have the boys back up for our clash with Bathurst St Pats in Tiger territory this Sunday when the Club celebrates Old Boys Day.
The Reggies secured their spot in the semi-finals with a fairly comfortable 36-6 victory over Parkes. Our boys were in control from the get go.
The Bourke boys were good with Conner Elwood, Braith Kelly and Blake Barker all standing out. Blake was just about our best for mine.
Another to shine was Conner Burley. Conner has a new love in his life and she was on hand to watch him perform and perform he did. I’ll tell you what the club will shout that little lady in each week if Conner is going to play like that. That’s as good as Burl has ever gone. Well done ol’ mate (on the footy and the girl).
The Juniors saw our boys start slowly and by half-time the game was as good as gone. To the boys’ credit they hung in there in the second half and kept Parkes to a couple of tries in the second session.
The boarding school boys were good with Harry Williams and Archie Black both standing out. Harry is going to be a man mountain when he fills out.
Salty Sam Taylor was also good as he has been each week and - along with fullback Jayden Smith and Doc Burley - has been our most consistent all year.
In the League Tag if you take out the first five minutes the Tigers were excellent. The score ended up 14-4 to Parkes but it was 10-0 after five minutes of play.
The Smith Girls – Molly, Millie and Hollie - were good. If Millie was a yard quicker, they wouldn’t hold her. She made a heap of half breaks but just didn’t have the speed to go on with it.
Great effort girls from all of you, this side was missing four or five regulars and were in the game till the end. Matilda McDougall deserves a rap for her defence she was excellent. Well done Doog.
This weekend the Tigers will host St Pats on Old Boys Day where we will acknowledge some of our great sides from the past including the all-conquering 1966 side which defeated Goodooga 29-2 in the grand final held at Warren.
The first grade side will where replica jumpers from the 2000 Bogan cup premiers with the jumpers than being auctioned on Sunday night at the RSL Club. The Ol boys badge draw which is worth $400 to the winner will also be drawn that night.
Members will have to be present to win, with the draw going until a winner is found.
GO THE TIGERS!