TINGHA TIGERS 26

THERE is still a chance for the Tingha Tigers to contest the Group 19 grand final despite losing to the Glen Innes Magpies on Sunday.

In wet and slippery conditions at Kerry Mead Park, Glen Innes, the game was exciting for the crowd.

Club secretary Chris Curtin said the Tigers had fought hard.

Glen Innes dominated most of the first half and lead 22-4 at the break, but Tingha managed to score two quick tries from Nathan Blacklock and Todd Prince within 10 minutes of going back on the field.

But, it wasn't enough with Glen Innes taking a try extending the led 28-14.

The Tigers then came back in to play with Brayden Dwyer and Nathan Blacklock scoring making the score 28-26.

With less than 20 minutes to go the Tigers looked set to score again but Glen Innes took over and Blacklock went off with an injured hamstring.

Then Glen Innes captain-coach Jason Ferris scored three tries and it was over.

"It rained right throughout the game but both teams really put on a good show,” Curtin said.

“Considering the wet weather, it was well played by both teams.

“It was an excellent game of footy.

“Either team could have won on the day and if it had’ve been a dry field, we probably would have been able to get the lead.”

Curtin said Brayden Dwyer and Nathan Blacklock had great games.

“Macca (Blacklock) put in fantastic effort up until he got injured,” he said.

“It was disappointing and now we are hoping he will be right for this weekend.

“Marcus Woodbury also had a great game.”

The Tigers now take on the Uralla Tigers in the preliminary finals on Sunday.

“We have the homeground advantage but we are not going to be too over confident,” Curtin said.

“We know our strengths and our weaknesses and we will concentrate on those this weekend.”

In the President’s Cup major semi-final clash, the Tigers went down to Armidale Rams.

It was a close game 24-16, but the reigning premiers couldn’t maintain the lead.

“It was disappointing,” Curtin said.

“They were committed and it was very close.

“We had the lead early but they just let themselves drop off closer to the end of the game.

“There were a lot of mistakes and they really didn’t put 100 per cent into it.”

Curtin said if the first grade side play as well as they did on Sunday this weekend, they would be able to have another chance of beating the Magpies.

“It would be great to have a grand final spot in our 80th year and we will really be trying hard this weekend.

“We now need to regroup from the losses and move on to concentrate on what is to come.”