ABERDEEN Tigers roared life back into their ailing Group 21 club with their first win in two years on Sunday.
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Not only did the Tigers win but beat reigning premiers Greta Branxton Colts 40-16 into the bargain.
It came after a good first-round showing where they had pushed Scone Thoroughbreds but lost 24-16.
So overcoming the Colts on their home Greta Central ground was a cause for major celebration.
Young captain-coach Daniel Hoogerwerf had a tough initiation to the coaching ranks last season and he was elated on Sunday evening to be able to talk to the media about a win.
“We recruited really hard during the off-season,” Hoogerwerf said.
“It’s paid off. We’ve got a very good side with a lot of new faces.”
New faces such as Guy Holman, who coached at Murrurundi last season but was the Tiger man of the match against Greta.
“Lee Mitchell has returned too,” Hoogerwerf said.
“He hadn’t played for three years but is having his first year back. He played great at halfback.
“And Shane Hasselmann is back too. He had a few years at Maitland but decided to come back to us for his last year.”
Hasselmann is an electric five-eighth, frequently bamboozling defences with his stepping and jinking runs.
“Cameron French also had a big game,” Hoogerwerf said.
“He’s in his first year in first grade. He had to go out to play juniors at Denman last year and was their player of the year. But he’s back with us too. He’s very quick.”
French gives the Tigers a great spine with Hasselmann and Mitchell in the halves and Hoogerwerf busy at hooker and dummy half.
Added to the build-up for the Tigers is the addition of Clinton Blenman.
“He had his first game for us too,” Hoogerwerf said of a club that prepares to play Denman Devils at McKinnon Field on Friday evening.
The Tigers also received added praise from an unlikely quarter too.
Greta Central coach Ron Griffiths was impressed by what he saw on Sunday.
“They were too good for us,” Griffiths said.
“We’re way off the mark at this stage but full credit to Aberdeen. The first game they’ve won in two years but that’s good for Group 21 and Aberdeen.”
Losing hooker and co-captain Daniel Bates just after half -time was a problem for the Colts.
He had missed the first round and was injured 25 minutes in before succumbing in the second half.
“I thought the effort was there again,” Griffiths said of his defending premiers, “but the skill wasn’t there.”
Harry Goodyer was again one of the Colts’ best with another strong showing at lock while fullback Andrew Roberts, the Colts co-captain, also excelled at fullback.
