AN undermanned Batemans Bay Tigers under 18s side was bundled out of the semi-finals 62-nil by the Cooma Stallions at Cooma Showground on Saturday.
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The Tigers faced a full squad of Stallions with just 11 players due to work commitments and a suspension to Jarrod Ward from the previous match against the Moruya Sharks.
Before half-time the Tigers had a player sent off and a later sin bin cut the Bay’s team to just nine men for 10 minutes.
Despite being outnumbered by three players in the second stanza, the Bay heeded coach Danny Whitter’s message.
“I said to the boys ‘it doesn’t matter if they go around us with an overlap but not through the middle’,” Whitter said.
“They had a three-man overlap every time and I think the boys did really well.”
The Tigers had beaten Cooma this season but were vastly outnumbered.
“We had a chance to progress but it wasn’t meant to be,” Whitter said.
Whitter praised the work of the committee who reduced the club’s debt and believed the small steps were helping the Tigers.
“To field four sides is great compared to last year,” he said.
“If work and education permits, I’m hoping a few stay local and play in the seniors next year.
“Hopefully we can get a few boys back and we can run with four grades, including the girls, next year.
“It’s small steps and I’m hoping the Bay Tigers can step up again next year.”
Read Friday’s Bay Post/Moruya Examiner for a report on the Tigers reserve grade side elimination final loss to Eden 59-34 at Cooma on Saturday.