Eagles redeem half time slump
IT'S half time at Lang Lang and Ellinbank are down by 19 points in atrocious conditions.
Some doubts may have been starting to creep in externally. Would it be a bridge too far for Ellinbank to claim an important result as the Eagles look to separate themselves from the mid-table pack?
Internally there was no doubt, as the visitor went on an impressive and dominant second half run to eventually win comfortably, 11-7 (73) to 7-6 (48).
Nothing had been going the Eagles way, Bryce Joyce taking a while to get going after being dealt with in a harsh sling tackle over the boundary line.
Daniel Lewis showed a clean set of hands and found space to open the scoring, before keeping the ball in play with a toe poke opened an opportunity for Liam Hetherington.
Lewis showed a clean set of heels for another and while Nathaniel Paredes was pushed forward to convert a clever snap, Daniel Vela responded for the Tigers.
Liam Edgar, Jackson Ventura, Lewis, Bradley Aldwell and Luke Clark were leading the way as the Tigers took control.
Worries for the visitor were exacerbated when Tim Farthing came from the ground looking proppy.
When Liam O'Connor, who returned from some injury concerns of his own with a shoulder, was gifted a certain goal from a 50-metre penalty, the Tigers had five goals to one and were threatening an upset in Ben Barwick's 100th game.
A response was required, and internal belief was no doubt in the camp as the Eagles would score 10 of the next 12 goals to turn the game on its head.
Ellinbank began to force repeat entries to have the Tigers defence work overtime, and Liam Carolan would convert a snap from a free kick to close the margin to 19-points.
Lewis found space to give Lang Lang the first goal for the second half, but it would only spur the Eagles onto a run that would see them not only work their way back into the contest but hit the front heading into the final change.
Daniel Risol, Anthony Battista, Michael Urie and Ryan Atherton came into the game, while Paredes began to shake his heavy tag to drive the Eagles' forward.
A courageous mark from Paredes sparked the run, with Urie finding Matthew Dare to give the Eagles consecutive goals for the first time.
Ashley Scott was allowed to go on with it and take the advantage after Urie had been unfairly dealt with as the Eagles closed within a goal.
When Shaun Phelan was rewarded with a holding the ball free kick, Ellinbank had remarkably hit the front. He wasn't done yet, plucking another mark running back and wasting no time to play on for another goal.
As the rain began to set in, the Eagles kicked consecutive goals to push the margin out to three goals.
While Lewis kicked his third for the Tigers for a steadier at the 18-minute mark, Phelan would shut down any hope of a Tigers revival when he booted his fourth.
Johnson would finish with his second through the agency of Mark Vassett to cap an inspired second half from Ellinbank.