FOR three quarters of Saturday’s AFL Central West match at George Park 1 the Bathurst Giants and Orange Tigers couldn’t be separated.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, the Tigers showed their experience to pull clear in the last quarter to win 12-19-91 to 9-7-61.
Tigers led the Giants 62 to 59 going into the final term but the hosts were shut down through the midfield.
It’s still an encouraging result in the eyes of Giants coach Mark Kennedy.
“As I’ve said through last year and this year, it’s all about building up for us and seeing continual improvements. The guys who have come back from last year have improved leaps and bounds,” he said.
“We went out there wanting to make a contest of this game. Unfortunately Paul Jenkins went off with a stinger in his shoulder in the fourth quarter. That lost us a bit in the middle, Orange kicked a couple of quick goals and that was it.
“I was really happy with our completion rate and the way we moved the ball from our half-back line to the wings. The older players in the Orange side just started to put a bit of pressure on our guys through there.
“I thought Orange played consistently all game. Our guys are still a young group and a lot of the difference comes down to our decision making.”
Aiden Macauley kicked three goals for the Giants to bring his tally up to nine for the season.
“Aiden’s a great little goal kicker who knows how to use his body to win the ball,” Kennedy said.
“He’s had a great start, with five goals last week against Dubbo and now three here.”