Hosting Moama at Scott Oval on Saturday, Cobram produced a masterful display as it once again showed it was peaking at the right time heading into finals, claiming a dominant 20.12 (132) to 2.2 (14) victory, dashing the Magpies’ finals hopes in the process.
From the opening ball-up it was clear the Tigers were in no mood to entertain a close encounter, delivering a crushing blow to lead 6.1 (37) to the visitors’ solitary behind at the first break.
While Moama managed to kick a goal in the second term, Cobram ensured the Magpies kicked just the one major for the term, and consequently the half, while adding another 4.5 of its own to open up a decisive 10.6 (66) to 1.1 (7) margin by the main break.
It was a scoreline that would be replicated in the second half, as while the Tigers mustered only 2.4 in the third term to Moama’s one straight goal, the home side exploded with a blistering 8.2 final term, restricting the Magpies to a solitary behind in the process, to emerge with a mammoth 118-point win.
Vice-captain Tyron Baden was electric in the victory for the Tigers, booting six goals to be named best afield, while Perry Lewis-Smith further enhanced his already brilliant season with another two goals to be named second best.
Matthew DeMaio, Jackson Trengove, Adam Champagne and Jack Murray were all influential as well, rounding out the best, while Bowen Calogero, Mikael Corso and Ben Ryan each added two goals apiece in the rout.
While the Tigers retain their standing in second spot following the victory courtesy of their huge 177.49 percentage, they are yet to secure the position with two rounds remaining.
At 11-5, the Tigers remain locked in a battle with both Nathalia and Mulwala in third and fourth, with both of those sides possessing the same 11-5 record, setting up a massive final fortnight in the race to secure a double chance.
Mulwala has arguably the best run of the three sides, facing 10th-placed Deniliquin and ninth-placed Echuca United in the final two rounds, and while Cobram and Nathalia each face a side out of finals contention in Finley and Moama, respectively, this weekend, they will play each other in the final round, a blockbuster clash that could decide second spot.
In other round 18 results at the weekend, the Purples trounced Rumbalara 29.13 (187) to 7.13 (55), Finley was too good for Echuca United in a 12.14 (86) to 6.4 (40) victory, Mulwala beat Tongala 14.9 (93) to 10.13 (73), while Congupna avoided an upset loss to Numurkah, winning 10.10 (70) to 9.12 (66).
