Tenacious Tigers bring Dogs to heel

Bridgetown Bulldogs’ unbeaten streak came to an end in round 12 of the Lower South West Football League after losing to the Manjimup Tigers by a point 12.11 (83) to 12.10 (82). From the outset the Tigers looked to press Bridgetown high up the field and not give the home team the chance to get any real footing in the game. The first goal fell to the Tigers in an opening quarter full of intensity, they went on to score a further two majors and three behinds in the term. Bridgetown managed to kick a couple of goals but went into the first break trailing by eight points. The Bulldogs had a better second term as they managed to close the gap to just three points after good play from their defenders made it difficult for the Tigers to play a more free-flowing game. The energy expended by the Tigers to try to stunt the Bulldogs was starting to show as they went into half-time on the down spiral. Bridgetown capitalised on this drop in energy by kicking 4.5 in the third quarter to take the lead for the first time in the match. Bulldog Brett Wilson stepped up and put in a good performance all over the field in the third quarter to help his team take the lead going into the final term. It looked as though the Tigers had let slip the opportunity to push Bridgetown all the way but the game was not over yet. A monumental fourth quarter by the Tigers, especially from Adam Edwards, Zane Russo and Christopher Daglish frustrated the Bulldogs as the Manjimup outfit’s aggression and desire overcame the odds. All seemed lost at the end, however, Jordan Jupp won a free kick for the Bulldogs about 30m out from goal as the siren blew for full-time. A point would have levelled the score and a goal would have won the game for the Bulldogs and spared any blushes, but it was not to be as Jupp kicked the ball out on the full, sealing a memorable Tigers’ victory.