HAWKS, TIGERS BLOWFOR-BLOW IN BIG BOUT
A BULLISH dogfight in the centre made for a back-and-forth slugfest at Watsons Oval , but Manunda Hawks came out on top against a tough North Cairns Tigers outfit.
In what was the Hawks’ first game of the 2022 season, Corey Flint flexed his muscle in a 12.9 (81) to 8.13 (67) victory.
The contest started slow for both teams, with pressure at half forward making it difficult for either side to get any traction on the scoreboard.
This included reliable Hawks forward Ezekiel Frank, who had plenty of opportunities inside 50 but couldn’t convert.
Frank managed to get into his groove later in the game, and was rewarded with one major for his tireless efforts.
Defensively, the Tigers gave Manunda all it could handle thanks to hard-nosed efforts from Perth product Jonathon Riseley as well as Bell Post Hill (Geelong) converts Boe Collins and co-captain Brock Carter.
The 203cm tall skipper helped generate lanes for his team in the centre, but his energy was matched stride for stride by Hawks mid Elia Ware, who proved hard to stop around the flanks.
The wet ball fooled many a frustrated player throughout the first half. That is except for Flint, who launched himself into every contest and made every mark he needed to keep his team ahead.
Hawks coach Peter Leonard said he was pleased with Flint’s performance.
But the second-year Manunda coach said his team had a long way to go after allowing the Tigers to claw their way back into the game, with four goals in the final 10 minutes of the contest.
“We’ve got some work to do, they (Tigers) have some good intent,” Leonard said.
“The game ebbed and flowed, we pulled up a little after threequarter time, which was disappointing.
“We’ve got some basic fundamentals to work on in regards to wet weather footy, basically.
“I haven’t seen any of the stats, but they (Tigers) won the clearances battle easily.”
In a wet Good Friday clash at Port Douglas, the Crocs thumped South Cairns 14.7 (91) to 6.8 (44).
The Crocs shot out to a strong lead as rain came down at Port Douglas Sporting Complex, and the Cutters were never able to fight their way back.
On Saturday, the 2021 grand finalists will face off for the first time this season, as premiers Cairns City Lions host Cairns Saints.
Saints player-coach Wes Glass was keen to move on from the round one belting from South Cairns, and was confident his experienced playing group would make amends.
“We should be all right, the team will rebound pretty well,” Glass said.
“We just need to start kicking straight – at least we got plenty of opportunities last weekend.”
Lions co-captain Brodie Deverell wasn’t too concerned with the concept of a premiership rematch, stating getting his team into gear was the primary focus.
“We’re not playing it different to any other game,” he said.
“We know if we stick to our processes, then I think we’ll go in with a pretty good chance.”