It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t easy conditions as Kyneton got its Riddell District Football League season back on track.
After a couple of tough weeks, the Tigers were at home against the Gisborne Giants as they fight for a finals spot.
It wasn’t easy as the weather turned, but the Tigers still had plenty of opportunities to come away with a 15.21 (111)-7.7 (49) win.
Tigers coach Ethan Foreman said they were pretty tough conditions and it was a win that they enjoyed on Saturday night
“The match was crucial for our season and was like a final,” he said. “It’s getting to the pointy end of the season, we’ve been able to get back on track after a couple of losses in the last month or so.
“They were some of the worst conditions I have played in. One end of the ground is shot, it was wet, windy and cold, the whole works.”
Scores were level at quarter time before the Tigers had 10 scoring shots in the second quarter to lead by 44 points at the final break.
Gisborne Giants showed some fight in the third quarter with four goals but could only take four points off the margin.
The Tigers missed a number of shots in the final quarter but it didn’t stop them from coming away with the big win.
Foreman said to have 36 scoring shots in those conditions was massive and showed that their game plan could work in tough situations.
He said he didn’t know how their ground would pull up for the rest of the season.
Harry Ryan kicked seven goals in a best on ground performance for the Tigers.
Foreman said credit to him to be able to have a day like that in those conditions.
James Sullivan and Danny Grmusa did some heavy lifting in the midfield for the Tigers.
Cameron Freake, Joshua Lee and Caden Simpson were named the Giants best.
The win has the Tigers in fourth spot, but there is just four points between them and seventh placed Melton South.
Melton South is the only one of the four teams looking to lock in the last three finals spots to have two byes.
The Tigers finish their season with a clash with Melton South, which could decide finals spots.
“We have to continue winning,” Foreman said. We want to shore up finals and see how we go.”
“We will treat that game [against Melton South] like a final”
The Tigers have a bye this week, which Foreman said comes at a perfect time.
He said they would have some players back after the bye and would cause a few selection headaches.
In other matches, Diggers Rest beat Woodend-Hesket, Romsey was too strong for Lancefield in tough conditions, Wallan beat Macedon and Riddell got the points against Melton Centrals.
