Following a round one slip up against Numurkah, the reigning premier made amends on Saturday at Finley Recreation Reserve, overcoming the Cats with a brilliant final-term performance to nab a 12.13 (85) to 10.7 (67) victory.
The win was far from convincing for the Tigers though, who trailed at every break before making a decisive move in the final term to eventually win by 18 points.
A slow start to the contest saw Cobram trail by a kick at quarter time, down 1.2 (8) to 2.2 (14), having booted the opening goal of the contest early but failing to record another major.
The Tigers would win the second term, if only by a point, as they looked to build some momentum ahead of the second half, but the gritty Cats looked up to the task, maintaining the lead after both sides kicked three majors for the quarter, ensuring the home side led 5.4 (34) to 4.5 (29) at the main break.
Booting the first two goals after the break saw Finley out to a 15-point lead, although Cobram steadied with two of the final three goals for the quarter to reel the margin back in to eight points at the final change, but given how tight the contest had been all day, needed to lift if they were to get across the line.
In the end, the Tigers’ class prevailed, slamming the first six goals of the final term through the middle of the big sticks to open up a game-high lead of 30 points as the contest entered time on, and while the Cats added two late majors to reduce the deficit to 18, the damage had been done.
Former VFL Giant Perry Lewis-Smith was named the Tigers’ best in the win, booting two goals to continue his solid start to the season, while Corey Pearse and Tyron Baden (two goals) were also influential.
Ben Ryan earned a spot in the best after a four-goal performance, the most of any player on the ground, while Matthew DeMaio and Hugh Hyde (one goal) rounded out the top performers.
Bailey Roberts was a threat around goal all afternoon, opening his account for the season with two majors, while Hunter Verhoeven slotted a major also.
The win comes as the Tigers prepare to host Congupna this weekend in a mammoth Murray league grand final rematch at Scott Oval, with The Road no doubt still smarting following the Tigers’ huge upset in the decider last season.
Around the grounds, The Road continued its hot start, defeating Moama away from home by 32 points, while Numurkah defeated Tongala in the battle of the Blues by 19 points and Mulwala claimed a 63-point win over Rumbalara and Nathalia trounced Deniliquin to the tune of 68 points.
Netball
Cobram enjoyed its first victory of the 2026 Murray league A-grade netball season on Saturday too, with the Tigers recording a comprehensive 42-36 victory over the Cats.
The Tigers edged out to a 10-7 lead at the first break, an advantage they maintained at half time, entering the huddle with a 16-13 edge.
But the victory was really built off a mammoth third term, with the visitors adding 12 goals while restricting the Cats to four, widening the margin to 11 goals at the final change and all but putting the game to bed.
The gap grew even further in the final term, as Cobram put the foot down to record an eventual 16-goal victory, promoting them to fifth on the ladder and erasing the big defeat they endured in round one to Numurkah to enjoy an even percentage of 100.
The Tigers will look to make it two in a row when they host bottom-placed Congupna this Saturday, with The Road having suffered a 17-55 loss to Moama at the weekend.
In other round two contests, Mulwala defeated Rumbalara with a handy 57-32 scoreline, Nathalia dominated Deniliquin to win 77 to 33, while Tongala beat Numurkah 60 to 44.
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