TIGERS CLAIM THRILLER
RECALLED striker James Dick scored a final-minute PumpPlay goal to secure a thrilling come-from-behind 5-4 win for the Tassie Tigers over the NSW Waratahs.
In a thrilling final quarter that saw the lead change hands three times, it was Dick who reacted first to knock home a rebound winner after teammate Kieron Arthur had his penalty-corner flick saved.
The win, coupled with the Queensland Blades’ shock 5-2 loss to the Canberra Lakers, moves the Tigers clear on top of their pool group after consecutive wins.
Making his debut as Tigers captain in the absence of Eddie Ockenden, Jeremy Edwards and Josh Beltz, Tim Deavin said the victory was a giant step towards locking in a semi-final berth.
“No Eddie, no Jezza, No Beltzy and no worries,” Deavin joked post-match.
“That’s the strength of this squad that those key guys from our spine go out and young blokes like Gobind Gill on debut, Linden McCarthy and Oliver Smith come in and we can still deliver a performance like that. We were on the back foot for two quarters and trailing 2-1, but the belief was always there, and after some fantastic goalkeeping from Grant Woodcock and two saves off the goal line by Ben Read and I, we just needed to find another chance.”
“Thankfully we got it with a minute to play, James Dick put it away and we now look almost certain to win our pool and draw a really favourable quarter final against the Northern Territory or South Australia.”
Nic McEwan opened the scoring for the Waratahs from a second-minute penalty corner before Read levelled the scores with a penalty-corner flick.
The Waratahs responded emphatically, with Jack Hayes restoring their lead seconds from quarter-time.
The Waratahs looked more assured, particularly as Sam McCambridge was sent off, but he returned to turn hero with a remarkable goal and conversion to move the Tigers 3-2 up early in the final quarter.
Hayes goaled and converted six minutes from full time to edge the Waratahs back in front, before Dick’s heroics came just 68 seconds from time to bring the 2500strong crowd to their feet.
Deavin also revealed that striker Jack Welch will miss next weekend’s match against Queensland in Brisbane, after being called up to the Kookaburras World Cup preparation squad.
“Jack’s had two terrific AHLs previously and in my opinion should already be in the Kookaburras squad, but we get Hayden Beltz back from Australian U21 duty in Malaysia next week.”