MERIMBULA Diggers made a scintillating fourth-quarter comeback to serve the Tathra Eagles a crushing nine-point defeat in the opening round of Sapphire Coast AFL on Saturday.
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Merimbula playing-coach Nick Dillon said his team was confident going into the match and happy to get back on the pitch after months of training.
“To beat Tathra was great – they are a good side and have improved,” Dillon said.
“But we are just happy to come away with a victory first up.”
Tathra captain Ryan O’Loghlin said he was disappointed his team could not hold on to the win, but was pleased with the effort showed by all players.
“We went to sleep at the end there, but they are a very good team, so I am not too worried for the rest of the season,” he said.
The Eagles had home-town advantage at Lawrence Park and used this to their benefit in the first half to have a 90-75 lead going into the third quarter.
Despite a slow start, Dillon said he was confident his team could make a comeback in the second half.
“We were just trying to keep positive and work our way back into the game,” he said.
“We have put processes in place so we can match it with anyone.”
What followed was a struggle for possession from both teams.
However, at the end of the third quarter Tathra still held a 14-point lead.
The Diggers dug deep in the fourth to kick five goals to Tathra’s one to move in front and win the match by nine points.
Best on field for Tathra were Jason Ainsworth in the midfield, Adam McBain with nine goals, and rugby league converts Jack Hukins and Tyler Rose.
Best players for Merimbula were the Birch brothers, Jack and Thomas, in midfield and ruck, midfielder Adam Daley and Jack Murphy.
It was a bittersweet victory for Murphy, who played his first and final game of the season for the Diggers before jetting off to England.
Despite the first round win, Dillon said his team’s biggest match will be this weekend when the Diggers take on Pambula in an Anzac Day clash.
It will be the first time the two teams meet since Pambula took down Merimbula in the 2014 grand final.
“We just hope to improve as a team and improve as individuals. If we do that, we will be happy,” Dillon said.
In round two Tathra will play an away Anzac Day clash against Bega.
“Anzac Day is obviously a very special day and I hope we get a good crowd there,” O’Loghlin said.
“There is always a bit of rivalry between the two teams and I know a few players from Tathra now play for them so that will be interesting.”
