Prelim versus Mt Roskill at Mountfort Park 25th November 2007
Seniors
Mt Roskill 7 9 51 d North Shore 7 5 47
A very windy day and some ordinary skills saw the match turn into a real hard slog. When you loose by less than a goal, there are many incidents you can pinpoint during the match that could have made the difference and there was nothing between the two sides. Unfortunately the Tigers season has come to an end. Lets hope we can retain the huge influx of new players this season for a more stable season next year.
Losses to Roskill this year by 3 pts, 4pts, & 20pts
Losses to Waitakere this year by 4 pts
Losses to University this year by 26 pts & 89 pts
Best Players: N Cunneen, A Sucu, R Worrell, L McLennan, B Elvines, R Gore
Goal Scorers: G Dickson 4, N. Cunneen , R. Gore, B. Elvines
1st Semi Final versus Waitakere at Parrs Park 18th November 2007
Reserves
Waitakere 19 13 127 d North Shore 2 2 14
Unfortunately the young Tigers were no match against a enthusiastic Magpies team. Tom O'Sullivan put in a good performance in the ruck and with a team full of Under 18 players there is a big future for the Tigers.
Best Players: T. O''Sullivan, J. Cunliffe, S. Ford, H. Boys, D. Trifunovich, C. McWilliams
Goal Scorers: M Coultard 2
Seniors
North Shore 10 6 66 d Waitakere 5 12 36
A fantastic turn around from the week before. The Tigers were down by a goal at three quarter time and showed enough passion to kick 5 goals to zip in the last quarter. Some hard wotk and finally some passion made for a good performance with the Tigers peaking at the right end of the season.
Best Players: B. Rattray, D. Herde, A. Crighton, R. Worroll, M. Crighton, S. Howard
Goal Scorers: S. Howard 3, N. Cunneen 2, A. Sucu 2, B. Rattray, R. Gore, T. Rodgers
Round 10 versus Waitakere at Parrs Park 11th November 2007
Reserves
Waitakere 21 13 139 d North Shore 3 2 20
A great start but thats were it finished. Although the scoreline suggests a massive difference between the two sides, next weeks final will see a rematch with Waitakere and the Tigers will be up for it.
Best Players: T O'Sullivan, S Ford, M Coultard, C McWilliam, B Elvines
Goal Scorers: M Coultard 3
Seniors
Waitakere 7 10 52 d North Shore 6 12 48
The Tigers lead for the whole game only for the Magpies to kick two goals in the last 30 seconds and win the game. Some good passages of play but the hot day seemed to drain the Tigers as the the game went on. We will need a big effort this week to turn things around.
Best Players: A Crighton, L McLennan, N Cunneen, T Rodgers, R Worroll, S Howard
Goal Scorers: N Cunneen 4, S Howard, A Sucu
Round 9 versus Manurewa at Onepoto Domain 4th November 2007
Reserves
North Shore 10 14 74 to Manurewa 1 0 6
We must have been at Onepoto because it started raining as soon as the game started. Both teams fielded young sides but the Tigers were the faster. Good to see communication picking up and some good efforts to man up on rebounds. Full attendance and early arrivals made for an enjoyable day.
Best Players: J Cunliffe, K Kapene Belcher, R McCracken, C McWilliams, M Halliday, S Howard
Goal Scorers: J Cunliffe 3, S Copping 3, K Kapene Belcher 2, S Howard 1, M Coultard 1
Seniors
North Shore 8 9 57 to Manurewa 6 7 43
A great work out as a lead up to next weeks big game against Waitakere. Thanks to the Waikato boys for coming up. This was our gutsiest win for the season in slippery and windy conditions. The University game last week certainly improved our defensive running and this was probably the major factor in securing a victory. Our endeavor is fantastic but we are all aware that our skills are letting us down and the turnovers lead to a lot of extra running. Imagine how easy football would be if we kicked to our team instead of the opposition. Well done guys, we are in the finals.
Best Players: C Harvey, G Conway, A Crighton, N Cunneen, T Rodgers, R Worroll
Goal Scorers: G Dickson 3, N Cunneen 2, T Rodgers, S Howard, T Danks
Round 8 versus University October 28th at Colin Maiden Park
Reserves
University 13 17 95 to North Shore 2 1 13
The Tigers came up against a physically larger team and at the early development stages of a team consisting of 9 under 17 players, this was definetly a learning experience. One area to target for improvement is being at the ground at the correct time. Training attendance and our efforts to be at the ground and prepare properly are usually mirrored by on field performance. Thanks to the A grade players who filled in during the first quarter due to late comers. Connor McWilliams and Nelson Longstaff both put in good first game performances.
Best Players: J Cunliffe, T OSullivan, N Longstaff, R McCracken, C McWilliams, K Kapene Belcher
Goal Scorers: J Cunliffe, K Kapene Belcher
Seniors
University 23 9 147 d North Shore 9 4 58
A good time for this result. Two weeks before finals and a great opportunity to get things right before the business end of the season. University certainly put on a good performance and with their two strong focal points in the foreward line providing 17 of their 23 goals we do have some work to do before we earn the right to play them again. Quite a few experiments that didnt come off.Considering our three losses this year were by 3 points, 23 points and 26 points, this can be considered a hiding. Promising signs from Reece Worroll and Glenn Carter playing their first games for the club. If we can get this combination to training and work hard, we can turn this result around.
Best Players: B Pine, T Danks, P Hudson, A Sucu, G Dickson, B Rattray,
Goal Scorers: T Danks 2, G Dickson 2, T Rodgers 2, R Worroll , A Sucu, B Rattray
Round 7 versus Takapuna October 14th at Onepoto Domain
Reserves
The reserves went into the game undermanned and underpowered thanks to a number of notable no shows. Individuals need to recognise that playing a team sport is not just about them. Absences meant a reshuffling of positions and inexperienced people being asked to fill key positions with little or no understanding of what they were to do. It also meant that when injuries arose, we were down on numbers.
Takapuna have a strong reserves side and dominated throughout the game kicking goals with and against the wind. A lack of commitment by the team to make sure they got to the ball before the opposition meant the Tigers were chasing Takapuna all day and this was reflected in the results.
Focus for next week, communication before and during the game. You have to let coaching staff know if you can’t make it and you have to communicate with each other on the field so you can work as a team.
Takapuna 12 16 88 to North Shore 0 6 6
Best Players: K Kapene Belcher, K Heath, J Cunliffe, S Copping, S Ritchie, B Kelvins,
Goal Scorers: Nil
Seniors
Injuries and unanticipated absences meant a last minute reshuffle of the team and early signs were good. The wind assisted the Tigers in putting pressure onto the Eagles defence but not on the goals as it was not directly down field. At quarter time pressure on the board was not as great as we would have hoped and this remained the story through the game.
The second quarter saw a terrific defensive effort. A reshuffling of positions allowed meant we had numbers to the ball in defence and allowed us to get some run on through the midfield and the Tigers were unlucky not to get a goal.
Into the third quarter and the Tigers started with a hiss and a roar. The ruck contest was well competed despite a significant height differential and the early drive from the square was good. The Tigers on ballers were guilty of hanging off the down field contest somewhat and the Eagles took advantage to play the ball well out of defence. Onepoto is a big ground and unless you put pressure on the ball carrier, there will always be space for players to run into. Lapses in defensive concentration allowed the Eagles to score a couple of soft goals which meant they were right in it going into the final quarter.
The final quarter saw the Tigers dig deep into their reserves of energy. Mentally we shifted into a defensive mindset at the expense of providing downfield options. Consequently, large portions of the quarter were spent under intense pressure from the Eagles. Earlier efforts had fortunately seen the Tigers establish enough of a lead to run out the game winners.
Focus for next week, as with the reserves we need to up the communication and heading into the finals we need members of the team to stand up and exert their authority as on field leaders.
Tigers 6 4 40 d Takapuna 4 5 29
Best Players: Z Nicholls, B Pine, L McLennan, B Rattray, P Hudson, A Sucu
Goal Scorers: A Sucu 3, N Cunneen, B Rattray, B Pine
Round 6 versus Mt Roskill October 7th at May Rd
Reserves
A solid performance from the reserves in a match where they were never headed and came out victors 7 14 56 to 4 8 32. A great effort from the backline which featured three players appearing for the first time this year. No shortage of willing runners provided the team with ample opportunities for shots on goal.
Best Players: M. Halliday, M. Hartnett, B. Kelvins, W. Sio, C. Dunstone, S. Grabowski
Goal Scorers: J. Hamblyn, M. Halliday, K. Kapene Belcher, B. Kelvins, Z. Nicholls, S. Copping, C. Dunstone
Seniors
After the bye last week, it was expected that the team would be at full strength but the withdrawal of 12 players from Monday to game time certainly made it difficult on the club. A limited bench due to the rules regarding the double up of players saw the Tigers finish with on field injuries and sick players having to front up. To our credit the first quarter wind which dissappeared at quarter time favoured Roskill and the 20 point lead they held at quarter time was the final deficit. Tigers going down 8 12 60 to 5 8 38.
Our inability to score goals is a concern that needs to be rectified by the return of more experience to the forward line.
Best Players: T. Danks, D. Herde, Z. Nicholls, G. Conway, L. McLennan, P. Hudson
Goal Scorers: J. Hamblyn 2, T. Danks, L. McLennan, N. Cunneen
Round 5 versus Waitakere September 23rd at Onepoto Domain
Reserves
A slow start against a much bigger Waitakere side saw the Tigers down by 3 goals very early but as the game went on the younger tigers side showed good patience to kick 3 goals in the last quarter to zero. The final score 9 goals 1 behind 55 points to 6 goals 12 behinds 48 points.
Best Players: S Grabowski, R Gore, K Kapene Belcher, M Halliday, J Boys
Goal Scorers: J Boys 2, K Kapene Belcher 2
Seniors
Each week the team gets better but today belonged to our back six. Great defence saw the Tigers rush through close to 10 behinds for the opposition. Injuries saw us without a ruckmen yet again but the centre square players showed their versatility in coping with tough conditions. Tigers victorious 11 4 70 to 8 16 64.
Best Players: B Rattray, C Harvey, A Crighton, P Hudson, B Pine, G Conway
Goal Scorers: T Danks 3, G Dickson 2, T Rodgers 2, M Halliday 1, A Sucu 1, J Hamblyn 1, K Kapene Belcher 1
Round 4 versus Manurewa September 17th at Mountfort Park
Reserves
A good win against a young Manurewa team. A big shower 10 minutes before the game left the ground a bog and the smaller players made the most of the conditions to run out comfortable winners 7 goals 7 behinds 49 points to 3 goals 3 behinds 21 points. Good to see the skills practised at training being used in the game and the communication gets better each week.
Best Players: Tom O'Sullivan, Kiwi Kapene Belcher, Josh Cunliffe, Ben Pine, Robbie Gore
Goal Scorers: S Howard 3, K.Kapene Belcher 1, J Cunliffe 1, R Gore 1, S Copping 1
Seniors
A disciplined performance by the Tigers resulted in a 14 goals 15 behinds 99 points to 1 goal 3 behinds 9 points victory. The tigers stuck well to the days game plan and the players should be commended for their defensive running efforts. Some tired boys at the end of the day but results are drawn from how much more you do than your opposition. Some great skills shown in the wet with the team boasting five players 17 years old or younger and another four players 19 or younger. Good to see the revolving door policy working well for the Tigers with seven changes again from last weeks team.
Best Players: A. Sucu, B Rattray, N Cunneen, T Rodgers, B Pine, G Dickson
Goal Scorers: G Dickson 4, N Cunneen 4, T Rodgers 3, M Halliday 1, A Sucu 1, R Gore 1
Round 3 versus University September 11th at Onepoto
Reserves
Things did not go well for the Tigers with their first home game at Onepoto for the year. That said their is no shortage of potential to improve and once the team settles down with a regular attendance, performances will get better. Against much larger opponents, we really needed to cut down turn overs and make use of the wide open spaces.
Seniors
A promising start against last years premiers in slippery conditions but the second half saw to many skill errors and not enough accountability for oponents when the ball was turned over.
The tackling was strong through out the match but we needed more of the ball to make any impact. The backline worked very hard in keeping University down to ten goals and we did have our chances at the start of the last quarter but skills were down and our scoring shots wide with the Tigers going down 9 11 65 to 5 9 39.
Big focus on improving skills this week for next weeks game at Mountfort Park Manurewa.
Best Players: Paul Hudson, Andrew Crighton, Todd Danks, Grant Conway, Daniel Trifunovic, Zac Nicholls.
Goal Scorers: Mike Halliday 2, Andrui Sucu 1, Todd Danks 1, Ben Rattray 1.
Round 2 versus Takapuna September 4th Bayswater
Reserves
The reserves were defeated by Takapuna 7 9 51 to 11 12 78. Quite a few new faces playing their first game of Australian Football with Simon Nolan, Josh Hamblyn, James Snedden, Tim Hodgson and Bryce Robson all making their debuts for the club. Add to the mix Shaun Ritchie and Ben Pine playing their second game and you could say we were fairly in experienced. All the more reason for a big turn up at training this week
Best Players: M Hartles, Sam Ford, Nick Hawkins, Harry Boys
Seniors
With seven players out from the previous week it was important that the Tigers put together a solid team effort and showed more than just individual efforts.
It was good to see so many Fathers at the game, sitting in the Prime seating of both the Inner and Outer grandstands. One Dad just back from Berlin commented on how easy it was to watch the game with the White lights switched on.
Great effort guys but the hard work has just begun with a massive challenge this week end against a team with some very good players.
Best Players: Andrew Crighton, Paul Hudson, Zac Nicholls, Ben Rattray, Grant Conway, Craig Harvey
Goal Scorers: Mike Halliday 3, Ben Rattray 2, Andrui Sucu 1, Geoff Dickson 2, Todd Danks 1, Paul Hudson 1, Tom O'Sullivan 1, Tim Rodgers 1
Round 1 versus Mt Roskill August 26th Bayswater
Reserve Grade
The new ground surface at Bayswater and the removal of the cricket pitch along with a windless day made it a perfect day for footy.
The Tigers defeated Mt Roskill 8 goal 10 behinds 58 points to 5 goals 8 behinds 38 points. Steve Copping in his 28th season with the Tigers kicked 6 of the Tigers goals for a best on field performance. Andrui Sucu made some telling raids from the back line with some long driving kicks and Kiwi Kapene Belcher was dangerous up front. His four bounces on the run was one of the days highlights, unfortunately caught by the opposition attempting his fifth. Nick Hawkins provided some good leadership with his communication skills through out the day. NIck Lawrie and Matt Hartles were very solid throughout the match and Harry Boys was a rock in defence.
Seniors
Some good passages of play through out the match but more based around individual performances rather than team continuity. There was only a kick in the game for the whole day and Roskill held the upper hand in the fitness stakes and also were a little harder at the ball on the ground.
Not less than eleven players were playing the first game for the Tigers and so a few more games together will take out some of the kinks. In general, the skill level should be higher than what was shown on the weekend. Fitness plays a big part in this and some extra work will be needed in the players own time to address the problems we had in the second half where not enough accountability was shown when the ball was turned over.
Best Players: T Danks, N Cunneen, S Howard, A Crighton, L McLennan, J Rankin.
Goal Scorers: N Cunneen 5, T Danks 3, G Dickson 2, A Sucu 1, J Rankin 1.
North Harbour versus Auckland South August 19th Glouster park
Of the ten players selected in the Harbour side, only six participated due to injuries and work commitments.
A close contest in very ordinary conditions saw the Harbour team go down by a goal. Scott Hayes made the long trip down from Kerri Kerri and applied himself well and he will be an asset for the Tigers in the 2007 season. Todd Danks showed off his abilities to retrieve the footy in heavy contests and handled the heavy grounds better than anyone.
Ben Rattray got a lot of possession and although the kicking boots were a bit rusty, he did get a heap of the footy. Craig Harvey was solid in defence and Mick Coultard popped up on occasion to make some contributions.
Nick Cunneen was amongst the few goal scorers on the day and will fair better in dry conditions.
We will see how the combinations form against Mt Roskill this week in Game 1.