THE weather wasn’t the only dampener on Sunday as the Bombala Blue Heelers recorded its first win of the season, accounting for the Batemans Bay Tigers 28–20 at Mackay Park on Sunday.
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The Bay made a solid start to the match when Michael Sinclair crossed out wide after the ball went through the hands and Jacob Hill added the extras to lead 6-nil.
Minutes later Bombala put a ball down and the Tigers were in again courtesy of Mitch Freeman.
Hill duly converted to push his side ahead, 12-nil.
Bombala hit back after the Tigers dropped the ball on two sets in a row.
Blue Heelers’ hooker Paul Perkins took advantage to register the visitor’s first points of the day.
From the restart Bombala knocked on and Doug Ebsworth crossed the try line after some smart play.
The kick went wide and Batemans Bay went into the half-time break leading 16-6.
The Tigers made a poor start to the second half when it knocked on from the kick off.
Bombala begun to gain momentum as it worked the ball up field through the big forward pack.
Prop Brett Hodack was the beneficiary of the hard work and crashed over the try line.
The kick by Dan Jacobs was a formality and the Blue Heelers trailed 16-12.
Batemans Bay looked to be in off a move from a scrum 20 metres out, but it was ruled a shepherd.
Bombala worked its way out of trouble with the penalty and capitalised as Matt Stone crossed.
Jacobs slotted the conversion and the Blue Heelers’ tails were up after hitting the lead for the first time in the match, 18-16.
The visitors were parked on the Bay’s try line after a high shot gave Bombala a penalty.
However, the Bay was stout and defended its line well to deny Bombala any points.
Hill showed his wares after the Tigers received a penalty as he sliced through the Blue Heelers’ defence to put his side in the lead, 20-18.
Unfortunately for Batemans Bay, dropping the ball became contagious late in the second half and Bombala took advantage to retake the lead, 24-20.
Two penalties to Batemans Bay gifted it good field position and the Bay looked to score what could have been a match-winning try but fullback Mick Tadich was deemed offside.
Minutes later the Bay knocked on and it was swooped on by Bombala, who put the icing on the cake with a try to Andrew Anderson.
Tigers’ president Bob Mitchell said a few players stood out.
“The best players for the Bay were Mason Harrison who was aggressive and committed, Mick Tadich who had very few chances from fullback, Billy Zahra, Marcus Golman and Ben Carmody, who did more than his share of the defensive workload,” Mitchell said.
The first grade match was the only game of the afternoon after Cooma forfeited to the Bay’s under 18s.
The Supporters Club hundred club draw was won by Geoff Kates who wasn’t present at the game.
The jackpot goes to $150 and will be drawn at the Friday night raffle at the Bayview Hotel.
A players and supporters bus will travel to Bega on Sunday.
Phone Max Ladmore on 0422 144 028 or John Ladmore on 0418 697 297 to book.
Tigers’ calendar:
Sunday: Round five: Batemans Bay v Bega (away) – first grade, reserves and under 18s.
May 1: Group 16 v Group Six – evening game – at Mackay Park.
May 3: General bye.
May 10: Round six: Batemans Bay v Eden (Mackay Park).
May 16: Round seven: Batemans Bay v Moruya (Mackay Park) – first grade, reserves, under 18s and league tag.
May 24: Round eight: Batemans Bay v Cooma (Mackay Park) – first grade, reserves and under 18s.
May 30: Round nine: Batemans Bay v Narooma (away) – first grade.