Boston Tigers break 1,406 day win drought in Port Lincoln Football League
A revitalised Eyre Peninsula footy club broke a 1406-day win-drought in dramatic fashion on the weekend. Their coach believes more success is right around the corner.
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The Boston Tigers Football Club have finally sunk their teeth into the taste of victory after winning their first match in 1406 days.
The Port Lincoln-based team defeated Wayback Football Club 9.13(67) to 9.11(65) in a nailbiting match on Saturday.
The Wayback Demons are a powerhouse of the Port Lincoln Football League, having won 33 premierships. Boston, on the other hand, has only one flag.
“It was a pretty emotional scene when that siren sounded,” Boston playing-coach Brad Keast said.
“Fans and players were running around the oval and hugging each other.
“It’s hard to describe the feeling in the rooms after as well, we were all over the moon.
“To the boys’ credit we hung tough and kept fighting til the end. We had the mindset we needed to go ahead and win the game and pulled it off.”
Boston had the third-longest current losing streak in local SA footy heading in to Saturday’s game, behind Great Flinders Football League side Eyre United (1721 days and counting) and Eastern Eyre Football League outfit Cowell (1448 days and counting).
Boston, led by star vice-captain James Neale (three goals), were on fire to kick-off the matchup – taking a 30-12 lead into the first break.
But the Demons gradually pegged them back and took the lead with three minutes left in the game.
The visitors surged in the final minute however, fighting for the ball in the middle and bombing it toward the forward pocket for Neale to boot a dramatic winning snap.
Keast took on the Boston job in 2021 after a challenging Covid period for the Tigers, which had seen a number of players and volunteers leave as the club opted to make its U18s and juniors a priority.
While the first two years of his tenure were a struggle on the field, Keast and the committee made retaining and signing standout talent a priority off the field and in turn added names such as Marcus Liddell (Eyre United), Raheem Betts (Eyre United), and Aaron Biddle (former Loxton).
LOCAL SA FOOTY’S LONGEST ONGOING WIN DROUGHTS
EYRE UNITED (Great Flinders Football League)
– 2018 season, 1,725 days and counting
Round 13, 2018 was the last time Eyre United’s A Grade side had a win in the Great Flinders Football League, topping Lock by 15 points.
Since then the club – based 20 minutes from Tumby Bay – has faced challenges with Covid-suspended seasons and a loss of players due to commitments out of town.
COWELL (Eastern Eyre Football League)
– 2019 season, 1,452 days and counting
Cowell beat Ports in round two of the 2019 Eastern Eyre season, winning 51-86 away from home, but it has been tough going for the club results-wise since the unlikely win.
Another club impacted by Covid, the Cats lost a year of competition when the league was forced to cancel its season in 2020 and have been restocking their reinforcements since.
Kym Martens has arrived as new coach of the Cats this season.
UNITED (Adelaide Plains Football League)
– 2020 season, 982 days and counting
United has remained a healthy club off the field despite its recent struggles on it, and has added former Woodville-West Torrens star Jarred Allmond as playing-coach this year.
While the Tigers went down to APFL force Mallala in round one, that elusive victory should not be far off.
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