PFNL 2018: Tigers cement minor premiership with huge win over Mandurah

The Tigers went into their last game of the regular season eyeing the prize of a week off before opening their finals campaign and Jetta’s outstanding performance helped deliver it with a 26.22 (178) to 5.8 (38) demolition at Sir Ross McLarty Oval.

Pinjarra was in peak form from the get-go, blasting Mandurah in the opening term as Jetta bagged four of his eight in the first while captain Dean Beswick continued his run of impressive form in defence.

Nine goals to Mandurah’s zip in the first quarter saw the home side head into the break leading by a whopping 59 points, and even though the Mustangs managed their first goal of the day in the second it did little to ease the pain on the scoreboard.

Pinjarra debutante David Yaccob – who made an impression at the national level when he was named WA’s MVP for the under 16s tournament – booted his first goal in league footy as the Tigers steamrolled their way to a 98-point buffer at the half time interval.

Thankfully for Mandurah fans their Mustangs found four goals in the second half, but they couldn’t stop the Tigers from rampaging as Jetta ended the day with a flurry of goals to help the hosts secure their 14^th victory on the year.

The win also cemented what was an already probable minor premiership for Pinjarra, netting them a week off in the opening round of the finals and a second chance lifeline should they need it when they start their post-season campaign.

Pinjarra now heads into the finals on a seven-game win streak as they eye back-to-back flags, creating an eerily similar situation to their premiership campaign last year where they dominated finals after heading in on six straight wins.

They will now rest for a week before hosting the winner of Baldivis and Centrals’ qualifying clash.

Meanwhile Mandurah heads into their off-season having avoided the wooden spoon by a five per cent gap.

Pinjarra

L. Jetta 8, L. Padwick 3, R. Bird 3, M. Brown 2, R. O’Brien 2, D. Yaccob, S. Martin, D. Beswick, B. Kazakoff, D. Hardy, R. Kerr, B. Gillam, J. Kearing

Mandurah

J. Spark, N. Thomas, S. Puls, D. Nelson, M. White

Pinjarra

L. Jetta, D. Beswick, B. Gillam, R. Beswick, R. Bird

Mandurah

J. Spark, B. Hodge, H. Free, M. White, D. Nelson, N. Thomas