Round 11 – Grafton Westlawn Tigers V Urunga Raiders

The waxing gibbous moon rising over Barnier Park last weekend did little to ameliorate the players comfort as they faced off for round 11 of the North Coast Premier League Football competition. At a nut tightening 8.10 C spectators were few and far between I can report a bit sad really because but the football was a credit to both teams.
The Tigers defended with resolve of a side that has seen victory only twice in 2017 and it would 29 minutes before the Raiders netted the first of the night via the right foot of Fabrice Wamara and that from close range. Wamara followed that up with a well-timed header at the end of fast Raider attack to have the sides in the sheds the Raiders a handy 2-0 lead.
On the back of about 80 percent possession the Urunga side might’ve expected a more convincing score line and certainly against some other sides it would’ve been. The Tigers hit back at the start of the second half to have the scores at 2-1, not in the Raider’s coach Paul Pomroy’s plan at all. Just a good individual effort from Jordan Newman who can run like the wind blows his shot ricocheting off the far post into the Raider’s net look they just couldn’t catch the fleet footed Newman. It would be the closest the Tigers could get though as Fabrice Wamara gathered his hat trick 25 minutes from full time, Tim Ruprecht added another for 4-1 but the goal of the match goes to Jake Leslie. Gathering the ball in his own half Leslie darted inside one defender the ball sitting up nicely for him to hit a speculator that dipped into the Tigers net for 5-1 a strike Leslie will savor for some time. A solid result against an improving side for the Raiders who won’t have much time to dwell on that win as they will play a midweek catch up game V the table topping Orara Valley Dingoes on Tuesday (11/7) night at the Cabbage Patch with kickoffs at 6 and 8pm.
In other results the men’s Reserve Grade an emphatic 5-0 win, Jack Martin a hat trick hero, Grant Homes 1 and the Shark 1. The women played Boambee Bombers who are current leaders of the women’s competition and went down 2-0.
Go you Raiders!