Tigers left seeing purple

By Owen Sinclair

Jul 1, 2025

Hunter Verhoeven makes it look too easy in the Cobram reserves' victory over Nathalia. Photo: Mary Hyde.

Nathalia has pulled itself home over the Cobram Tigers in a nail-biting contest at the weekend.

Just one goal decided the outcome in the round 12 clash between the two sides that have jostled for a spot in the top four.

Missed shots plagued both sides in Hugh Hyde’s 150th club game for the Tigers, until two Cobram goals gave the Tigers the lead in the first term.

But two late retorts from Nathalia put the Purples just one point behind at the start of the second term.

Both sides traded blows up to the half-time siren, when Cobram had just managed to finish with a four-point lead over their hosts.

But the writing was on the wall. Despite a Cobram goal in the first minute of the third term, Nathalia was hot on the chase. A Liam Evans major, followed by another from teammate Jordan Koo, helped the hosts pull ahead to finish the third term neck-and-neck with the Tigers.

Despite an early goal by Cobram, another Koo major came before Nathalia’s Joshua Vallender eased another through the big sticks. A late Cobram behind was little consolation as the final siren sounded, dashing the Tigers’ hopes of claiming their ninth win of the season, Nathalia 9.6 (60) to Cobram 7.12 (54).

At Barooga Recreation Reserve, the Hawks hosted a remorseless Rumbalara outfit that cruised to an easy victory by a 105-point margin. With contributions in front of goal by Barooga’s Jae Bowden (four goals) and Jack Brooks (two goals), the final score ended up as Barooga 7.5 (47) to Rumbalara 23.14 (152). Barooga finishes round 12 still searching for its first win of the season.

Sam Macheda fends off the pressure from Rumbalara's Jake Zerbato. Photo: Mel Bowden.

Another tough contest greeted the Hawks’ reserves, who fought tooth-and-claw with their Rumbalara counterparts, only to see the scoreline settle at Barooga 3.2 (20) to Rumbalara 15.14 (104).

Reserves

Cobram’s twos have added another big win to their 2025 season, continuing their fine form to leave their Nathalia counterparts in all sorts of trouble in round 12.

Thanks to a double hat-trick from towering forward Hunter Verhoeven and contributions from Kristian Bovalina and Bailey Roberts, the Tigers built a half-time 51-point lead to a final score of Cobram 16.10 (106) to Nathalia 2.0 (12).