The Seniors downed a very determined Old Ivanhoe Grammarians by 36 points at home to remain undefeated at the top of the VAFA ‘A’ Section ladder.
The Tigers were challenged from the start but slowly wrested the ascendency from Old Ivanhoe and had built up a 20 point lead at the short break.
Early in the second quarter, with Hiwad Shakaib and Jack Hellier impassable in defence, the Tigers threatened to blow the game open but the Ivanhoe team reined in the lead to 9 points only to allow us late goals and a well-earnt 29 point buffer at half time.
After the long break, the game continued to be an arm-wrestle as Old Ivanhoe again attacked and brought the lead back to 11 points but yet again the Tigers thwarted the challenge and, with Sam Anstey and Michael Wintle leading the way, the home team again re-built their lead.
The game was still very much on at 3/4 time but the Mentone team jumped away at the start of the last and, with Ryan Power subduing the Ivanhoe ruck division, again threatened to overrun the opposition but couldn’t quite put them away as the visitors continued to stubbornly refuse to give in, as they had all day, and ultimately fought the game out with great character and determination.
The Tigers’ Reserves had a nail-biting win by 6 points with a goal from James Terrell 3 seconds before the final siren while the Club XVIII had another good win to remain undefeated.
Next week the Tigers are away to last year’s fellow Grand Finalist Collegians who annihilated the Mentone team by 92 points when they last met at the Harry Trott Oval.