Deposed champions Tiger Old Boys saw their rollercoaster season finish this week with a fixture frenzy as they played their final three Uxella League games in the space of just five days.
Wednesday evening saw them in action against their stable-mates Tiger Reserves and, as a demonstration of the passion that can be aroused by such "derby" clashes, the Reserves bloodied the nose of their supposed first team with a winning margin of 7-5 despite goals from the first eleven's Mark Pope (2), Steve Haste, John Tier and Darren Chillingworth.
Forty-eight hours later the Tigers first team were in action again, this time against Cross Rifles but their push to claim second spot from Railway Club was dealt a mortal blow as they went down 8-4 to a rampant Rifles side whose outstanding performer was jet-heeled youngster Carl Jones. Jones scored a superb six goals and was joined on the scoresheet by Paul Cornish and by Rifles skipper Jason Stephenson.
Two straight defeats was less than ideal preparation for the Tigers as they went into action for the final time this campaign on Sunday morning against none other than Woolavington, this season's dominant force and the very team who had wrenched the Uxella League title from the Tigers' grasp. However, the Tigers managed to put their woes behind them on the day and took great pride from a battling 4-4 draw after goals from Mark Pope(2), Mike Nicholson and Sean Pople. Gary Head(2), Marcus Butler and Matt Blackmore were the Woolavington men who responded to ensure that the points were shared on this occasion by these two great rivals.
For the Tiger Reserves, meanwhile, their final league game did not go so well as they went down 6-2 away to Squib Madrid despite consolation goals from Jamie Chillingworth and Nick Keirle.
(Story First Published: 14.05.06) |
