Roos take it up to the Tigers

THE wild rain and wind did not stop bitter local rivals Noosa and Maroochy-Northshore from slugging out a classic encounter.

Noosa Tiger Adam Eady tries to control the ball in wet conditions at Weyba Road yesterday during the derby against Maroochy-Northshore. Picture: Geoff Potter

IT WAS good weather for ducks and not anything else, really.

But the wild rain and wind yesterday did not stop bitter local rivals Noosa and Maroochy-Northshore from slugging out a classic encounter.

In the end it was the Tigers who triumphed, recording a tight 7.8 (50) to 7.1 (43) win in front of a small but brave crowd at Weyba Road.

Most were expecting the high-flying Tigers to trounce the lowly Roos, but Maroochy-Northshore held a seven-point lead early in the second half.

The Tigers, who had a poor first half, then rallied and led by 18 points early in the final term, only to see the Roos peg it back.

Maroochy-Northshore got within a kick late in the match but Noosa pushed back and managed to hold on for an important victory.

Tigers captain Adam Bovalino said his side was expecting a tough slog given how well the small Roos side adapted to the wet conditions.

“The Sunshine Coast has to be the wettest place in Australia right now,” he joked.

“We've played a few wet games and we knew it wasn't going to be easy.

“We heard the rain falling early this morning, so it was always going to be a slog.

“In the end we held our heads and played to our strengths in that last quarter and got away with the win.

“They (the Roos) are a good, young side.

"They stuck with us for half a game last time we played them.

"They stuck to their guns, were hard at it and goals were like gold out there today.

“We just managed to kick more of a score than them in the end.

“They had a lot of blokes who are good at ground level and we had a couple of guys who stood up too.”

The Roos led by one-point at half-time, 4.0 (24) to Noosa's 3.5 (23).

They extended the lead early in the third term, but Noosa rebounded with the next three goals of the quarter, the last coming on the back of a 50m penalty after a melee.

Noosa's Danny Brewster kicked his fifth goal early in the final quarter to give Noosa a healthy 18-point buffer, but the Roos refused to give up.

Goals to Peter Hay and Jarrod Gale kept them in the hunt, but time got the better of them as Noosa shored up its spot in the Pineapple Hotel Cup top four.

“It's just pleasing to get the four points in the end,” Bovalino said.

“Every week you have to earn the four points.

“They don't come easy. It's nice to have another win.”

Both teams have a bye next weekend before the last three rounds of the season.

NOOSA 7.8 (50)

Danny Brewster 5, Zac Smith, Chris McGuigan goals

MAROOCHY- NORTHSHORE 7.1 (43)

Jarrod Clarke 2, Scott Hay, Dean Leary, Jarrod Gale, Jesse Goldfinch, Peter Hay

Originally published as Roos take it up to the Tigers