Tigers win helps firm top spot

Railways coach Wayne Stubber has described his side's 82-point mauling of arch rivals Royals at Tigerland on Saturday as their most complete performance of the 2015 Great Southern Football League season.

The Tigers' 10th win of the season was set up by a brilliant eight-goal opening term as they made the most of a strong breeze favouring the North Road end of the ground.

Trailing by 48 points and copping a nasty spray from coach James McRae at quarter-time, the Lions responded to kick the first two goals of the second term through Corey Ward and Michael McGlade.

But in a defining few minutes of the match, the Tigers worked the ball up into the breeze to cancel out the Lions' two majors as midfielder Zane Marwick and forward Matt Van Schayk both kicked truly.

The Tigers booted seven goals in the third quarter, Josh Alison and Liam Nyhan snaring two apiece, as they stretched the margin to a sizeable 75 points by the final change.

Logan Stubber then got in on the act early in the final stanza, kicking three quick goals to blow the margin out to triple figures before the Lions restored some respectability on the scoreboard with the final three goals of the game.

Tigers star Zane Marwick was simply brilliant again, as the Lions allowed him to roam freely for almost the entire day on his way to five goals and, most probably, three more Kleemann Medal votes.

He kicked three goals in the dominant first quarter and collected 17 second-half possessions to continue his stellar season.

Reliable defender Michael Parker played his best game of the season, intercepting well across half back, and classy duo Craig Frost and Logan Stubber also led from the front.

"I thought that was our most complete game of the season so far," Wayne Stubber said.

"Across the whole ground everyone contributed and we had a good spread of goalkickers.

"It was a good win, we thought Royals would be full of confidence after their win last week and our boys were really up for the challenge.

"The most important thing is to back that up now."

The result cemented the Tigers in the top two with only four rounds remaining, Stubber citing the double finals chance as their goal.

The Lions were hampered by injuries to Taylor Powell (corked quad) and Fraser Bradbury (hamstring) sustained before half-time, but Corey Ward (three goals), Ben Gray and Kieron Thomas were all strong contributors.

Lions coach James McRae said his side failed to lock down their opposition when they got a run on.

"We are a young side and we have our ups and downs," he said.

"Railways are a very good side and play unselfish team football.

"We speak about locking sides down, but we just didn't do it - it's a learning thing for us."

The loss dents the Lions' top-two hopes, but McRae said his side were happy to finish third.