Photos by Ricky Nixon.
Camera IconPhotos by Ricky Nixon. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Peel Thunder lose to Claremont Tigers by 19 points

Kaelen RulandMandurah Coastal Times

IT was a hard-fought battle, but Peel Thunder couldn’t quite walk away victorious in the face of the Tigers.

The Claremont Tigers defeated Peel by 19 points to end a hard-fought game at Claremont Oval on Saturday.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied
PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

After leading comfortably for three quarters, the Tigers were forced to hold off a fast-finishing Peel, ending the game 12.8 (80) to 9.7 (61).

Defender Traye Bennell said the Thunder were let down by their first quarter effort.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“They got ahead of us in the first quarter, kicked six goals straight,” he said.

The Tigers managed to keep their four-goal lead in the second quarter, but not without a fight from the Thunder.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Peel scaled the margin back to 11-points in the opening minutes of the second term, kicking two goals, but Claremont responded with three more.

Bennell said the backline held in the second half to keep pressure high.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“All the boys know we have to defend first,” he said.

Fellow defender Mitchell Crowden played a powerful game, laying 15 tackles on the opposition.

Brayden Lawler, new to the backline, also played a valuable roll in defence with six tackles and 13 disposals.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Bennell said coach Cam Shepherd assured the Thunder at three-quarter time that they were still in the game.

“He just told us to fight it out, don’t die off,” he said.

Bringing everything they had left to the final quarter the Thunder pushed hard, tightening their defence and pushing the ball to their forward line.

Peel managed to close the gap to an 11-point margin, with 10 minutes left in the game.

But with minutes to spare, the Tigers kicked the final goal, sealing the game.