WOORINEN highlighted the even nature of 2015 with a come-from-behind win over Koondrook Barham on Saturday.
The Tigers’ win sees them jump into sixth spot, with the Raiders stagnating in fourth position after five games.
Both sides have three wins, with questions about their respective credentials still in play.
Just how deep into the season Koondrook Barham can go is in doubt, with the Raiders now dropping consecutive home games to Nyah Nyah West and the Tigers either side of a fortnight off.
By contrast, Woorinen’s ability to hang in and grind out a tough victory against a side that many had penciled in as the most improved of the season sees them back in the mix after a big loss to Tyntynder.
It was a game of opportunities in a see-sawing contest at Barham, with the Tigers making the most of a big last-quarter swing in momentum.
While Doug Palmer only managed two goals for the Tigers in a low-scoring game, it was the more experienced stagers like Dwayne Hamlyn and Matt Iannucci who were able to grind out big games for the visitors.
Young guns Jye Barry and Jose Miliado also impressed and added to the scoresheet for Woorinen, with Zac Hare underscoring his forward potential with an impressive three goals for the home side.
Recruits Blake Chant and Luke Powell showed why they’re highly valued by Koondrook Barham, while veteran Shane Guerra played on in a gutsy last term despite a heavy knock right on three-quarter time.
Most of the day’s scoring was done at the town end, with Tim Gammon opening the Tigers’ account after a miss from Jay Reynolds for the Raiders.
Koondrook Barham replied with two consecutive goals, but a Doug Palmer major restored the Tigers’ eight-point lead at the first break.
Hare opened up his personal tally with the first goal of the second term, with Reynolds making it two in a row for the home side to give the Raiders the lead.
Koondrook Barham had the momentum before halftime, making the most of it to go in to the main break with a 13-point lead.
Just one goal would be scored in a dour third quarter, however, with Koondrook Barham left to rue missed opportunities to Nathan O’Toole and Reynolds before Barry kicked a clutch goal for the Tigers.
The five-point three-quarter time lead to the Raiders should arguably have been more, but with Hare kicking his third early in the last term home side fans would have felt confident of their side’s ability to hold on.
But Woorinen had other ideas. A quick, scrappy reply to Hare’s major put the Tigers back within one straight kick, with Doug Beames slotting a classy goal to snatch back the lead for the Tigers.
A behind to the Raiders saw the scores level, but a second goal to Beames put the Tigers up by six points midway through the term.
When Dean McGowan found Daniel Mowat for what would be the Raiders’ final major, scores were level.
A Tiger point gave the visitors the narrowest of leads as the light began to fail.
A scrambled, opportunistic goal deep inside 50m gave the Tigers the lead outright and it was not long after that the final siren rang.
Round 7 sees the Raiders travel to Greenham Park, with an important opportunity to regroup against Balranald, while Woorinen hosts Tooleybuc Manangatang.
