MPFNL Division 2: Tyabb overcomes injuries to edge Karingal in thriller

Oh, no...you could sense Tyabb’s exasperation when a key player hobbled off in the opening minute against Karingal. But there was a sting in the Yabbies’ tail as a young gun and a star combined.

Tyabb coach Matt Haverfield was proud of his side’s efforts on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Oh no, not again.

You could sense Tyabb’s exasperation as key forward Matty Clark hobbled off in the opening minute against Karingal on Saturday, his calf torn and his day done.

Soon after, the Yabbies lost two on ballers, including Coby Farrow (groin).

“It just sums up the year that we’ve had really,’’ Tyabb coach Matt Haverfield said.

By quarter time, Tyabb had no bench — the Yabbies’ wretched run of injuries this season has been barely believable — and an up-and-about Karingal was sniffing its first win of the season.

In a grandstand finish, Tyabb climbed off the canvas to win by three points, 11.16 (82) to 12.7 (79), with teenager Caden Kappe kicking the winning goal in the last quarter.

Sam Fox kicked four goals for Tyabb.

The Tyabb rejig included Will Hose going forward and kicking two goals and Sam Fox — in just his second game for the season — booting four goals.

“Those boys really dug in,’’ Haverfield said.

“Karingal got the jump on us early, though. It wasn’t just through the injuries. They were up for the fight. We worked our way back into it nicely. I was happy with the effort.”

Haverfield praised his players for digging deep, while giving an insight into his club’s luckless run with injuries.

“We’ve just been injury plagued,’’ he said.

The injuries came quickly and often for Tyabb this season.

In the first quarter of round one, vice-captain Brock Regan and recruit Tom Heuston suffered ACL injuries — their season over moments after it started.

Last week, Tyabb lost key forward Jimmy Freeman to a hamstring injury.

“We had a really god pre season, we were flying to start with, good practice matches and then once you get a few injuries you have to change a few things, you have to change your plans and take stuff from somewhere else,’’ Haverfield said.

On Saturday, Tyabb also counted ruckman Andrew Browne, Lachlan Cox, Cooper de Haas and Chris Harris among its best.

Zachery Holton was among Karingal’s best. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Karingal looked the winner during the game but couldn’t close the deal, despite the efforts of Taylon Valentine, Laughlin Cowell, Louis Barbour, Zachery Holton and Jackson Burke, who slotted five goals while playing alongside his dad Michael.

Tyabb sits second last on the MPFNL Division 2 ladder with a 2-9 record.

Haverfield said his players have stayed upbeat despite the bad luck with injuries.

“The boys have really stuck to the task,’’ he said.

“We knew we’d always be better in the second half of the year when we get a bit more connected I guess, from the new players that come through and the different way we have to adapt. I think we’ve adapted really well in the last few weeks. It holds us in good stead for the rest of the year.’’

He said the plan for the remainder of the season was straight forward. “I think it’s enjoyment,’’ he said. “When you’re not winning it’s hard to enjoy it. But we’re finding little ways every week, we’re building. It’s to find the enjoyment again.’’