The Pinjarra Tigers bolstered their campaign for top spot on the Peel Football and Netball League ladder with a huge victory over Centrals in muddy conditions on Sunday afternoon.
Pinjarra absorbed an early shell-shocking from Centrals as they conceded the first four goals, but remained composed to pepper the scoreboard with the next eight and take control of the match in a rapid turnaround.
Led by Rohan Kerr, who found the footy at a high rate in the first half, the Tigers were able to storm off the canvas and erase Centrals’ early four-goal lead in the space of just half a quarter.
Leading by two points at quarter time, Pinjarra continued their assault with the first four goals of the second.
Their forwards were able to make the most of their opportunities, with Brennan Gillam, Jeffrey Carter and Mitch Brown all hitting the scoreboard early in the quarter.
Centrals were able to snap their drought late in the term with a goal to debutant Brayden Jackson.
The young gun miss-hit his first attempt on goal and failed to make the distance, but was gifted another opportunity just seconds later and made good of it for his first in league footy.
But Centrals’ boost in morale didn’t last long, with Pinjarra getting the quick reply to restore their lead to 29-points at the main break.
Coming out of half time it was Centrals with the initial attack.
The top placed side looked to assert some authority in the game with a goal from Matthew Wray, but Pinjarra again had the quick reply, this time through Todd Ninyette.
The two sides went goal-for-goal for the remainder of the term, with Jackson booting his second and third goals on debut while Carter nailed a couple more for Pinjarra.
Tempers flared with spot fires igniting around the ground in the later stages, but it was the Tigers who remained composed booting the only four goals of the final quarter.
Brendon Coxon launched a number of passages from half back while Mackenzie O'Brien seemed to thrive in the tough conditions.
Centrals’ Thomas Keeffe and Matt Buxton did their best to weather the storm, but couldn’t stop a rampant Tigers outfit running the game out for a 16.11 (107) to 8.8 (56) win.
The victory sees the Tigers just one win away from top spot, with the easiest run home of any of the top five sides heading into finals.
Pinjarra will have to face an in-form Waroona side in what looms as an epic next week, but their final four rounds will come against the bottom three teams with games against Halls Head, Rockingham and two against Mandurah.