St Bedes Mentone Tigers suffered their first defeat of the season in their six point second semi final loss to Ajax. The match was a classic with less than three points separating the sides at each break. A huge crowd watched the match at Trevor Barker.
The game opened at a cracking pace as Ajax unleashed their running game plan to have the Tigers under early pressure. The Tigers though were up to the task and when Hayes drilled a running goal to open the account it was game on. State player Paul Groves was dominating on his wing. When his kick found Brett Collins on the 50 metre mark. Collins went back and goaled to give them the early lead. Sam Anstey and Michael Wintle were playing well in the mid field along with Firey Tim McColl. Ajax responded with two brilliant goals of their own with running football. Luke Beveridge missed and than followed up with a goal whilst Brett Collins missed two from straight in front. The Tigers led by a point at the first break. The second quarter was much of the same as both teams went goal for goal. The early ascendency for the quarter went to the tigers as they skipped out to a 15 point lead with goals to Hayes and Beveridge. Groves was giving the Tigers terriffic run on his wing before leaving the ground mid term. Although the Tigers ruckman Paul Brennan was dominating the ruck the Ajax midfielders were causing plenty of headaches. Ajax kicked into gear with three late goals to bring the scores back to a point at the half time break. It had been another electrifying quarter as the Tigers lack of accountability had hurt. The third opened where Ajax left off and they peppered the goals with a serious of points before they goaled. The tigers were under extreme pressure with little run out of the backline or midfield. The Tiger backline kept them in the game with Anthony Scaidi brilliant across half back. He was well supported by Paul Wintle and Steve Zakic who both defended tirelessly. The Tigers were wounded when big man Dean Porter broke his leg in a marking contested. The game was delayed for several minutes whilst Porter was stretchered from the ground. Shortly after Jon Kane also limped from the ground with a knee injury. After the restart the Tigers lifted with ruck rover Matt Hilton and Brennan leading the way. Goals to Beveridge,and Luke Terrell were followed by a courageous goal to Kane who had returned to the field. At the orange break the Tigers trailed by just three points. The last quarter was scintalating football with eleven goals kicked between the two. Ajaxs kicked six straight to the Tigers 5 goals three. Both teams took turns to lead as players from both sides stood up. Matt Hilton was brilliant when he sharked a ball out of the mid and goaled to set the Tigers in motion. Luke Terrel lifted with a spectacular mark and goal as did Brett Collins who missed before kicking another long bomb to kick the tigers nine points clear. He had another chance from close in but missed. Ajax though were kicking goals also to keep in touch. It was electrifying stuff.
Scores were leveled and when Ajax goaled to give them the lead with three minutes to play. ยท The Ajax defence held steady to give them a hard fought victory. It had been a fantastic game of football.