Tasmanians scorched as Brisbane slams in seven

THE Tassie Tigers have endured a horror Hockey One away trip to the Brisbane Blaze furnace, falling 7-0 to the title favourites on their home surface.

Sitting in third position entering the clash, the Tigers dropped out of the top four for the first time and now head to the second leg of their road trip needing to defeat the Canberra Chill to keep their finals hopes alive.

The Tigers had entered the match with Kookaburras star Jeremy Hayward returning and eager to avenge last year’s 9-4 semi-final loss on the Gold Coast.

But the match got off to the worst possible start for the visitors, with Daniel Beale opening the scoring for the Blaze in just the second minute.

Debutant Tigers goalkeeper Henry Chambers was able to come up with a conversion save from Beale but he could do nothing when Blaze penalty corner flicker Josh Rintala powered home their second goal after quarter time.

Trailing 2-0, Tassie skipper Eddie Ockenden sparked his side into action as he fired a warning shot on the Blaze net before assisting Josh Brooks to earn the Tigers’ first set piece opportunity.

But the Blaze found an answer to the Tigers’ increased pressure, earning a penalty stroke in the 24th minute that was duly converted by Kookaburra Corey Weyer.

After a half-time spray from Coach Andrew McDonald, the Tigers sparked into action with Ockenden, Sam McCambridge and Hayward all firing shots on target but to no avail. But they were put to the sword when Dylan Wotherspoon scored and converted back to back deflections with ease in the third quarter.

The Tigers now head to Canberra needing maximum points and regain Kookaburras forward Jack Welch from injury to bolster their line-up.

The Tigers face the Chill at 3:30pm live on Kayo.