BATHURST Bushrangers Outlaws couldn’t make an upset happen against competition leaders Orange Tigers on Saturday and are now hanging onto a top four AFL Central West spot by their fingertips.
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Tigers’ big third quarter proved the difference as they came away 12-8-80 to 8-6-54 winners.
Outlaws knew the task was going to be difficult against an in-form Tigers side, and the Bushrangers’ efforts were hampered further by injuries and absent players for the trip to Waratahs.
However, with all that against them, the Bushrangers never let the Tigers get completely out of their sights during a scrappy but competitive game.
Outlaws co-coach Ben Horn said his team were determined to make a much bigger impression after a poor showing last round.
“It was especially following the previous weekend against the Giants where we didn’t play well,” he said.
“We turned it around, came out and had a great game. Against the Giants they got a run on and heads dropped. On the weekend Orange kicked a few goals in a row after half-time but no heads dropped.
“Everyone kept fighting. By the end of the game we had 18 players with no rotations and we ended up winning the last quarter.”
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A big second quarter effort from the Outlaws brought them within six points at half-time.
Just when Tigers looked on the ropes they hit back with a flurry of blows, booting five goals and holding the Outlaws to a single major.
“The result didn’t go our way but as a playing group we were very pleased with the weekend. We’ve got injuries and players away at the moment so we went over there with a massively undermanned squad,” Horn said.
“Realistically there wasn’t much chance of us winning but everyone got stuck in and did the little things right. Tackles were up, the one percenters were up and the pressure was up.”
