Despite dominating the first and third quarters, the Tigers were never able to put the opposition away and almost paid dearly when Corowa-Rutherglen charged home with the final five goals of the match.

In the end it was Albury’s accuracy in kicking 23.6 (144) to 19.15 (129) which sealed the Roos’ fate and saw them drop out of the top five.

Paul Spargo’s charges were sensational early with star centreman Chris Hyde’s three first-quarter goals and 13 possessions pivotal in the Tigers opening up a 41-point buffer at the first change.

Hyde, opposed to Sam Carpenter, was in everything and, with Shaun Daly on fire against his former club, the floodgates had well and truly opened with Matt Fowler and Andrew Carey having endless chances come their way.

But the Roos swung the changes at quarter-time and the move of Chris Oliver into the ruck proved an inspired one as the former AFL player took complete control and allowed the Roos to get back into the contest.

It was the first time Cal McClay had been outplayed for the season and Carpenter, Cade Mills and Tyler Bonat followed his lead superbly to help cut the deficit to 18 points at half-time.

Unheralded Roo forward Nathan Thomas was the surprise packet with five first-half goals on his way to six for the match, while Nathan Reynoldson also flew under the radar to kick six of his own.

The third quarter was Albury’s turn to dominate as it kicked the opening four majors and it appeared to be coasting with a 36-point buffer at the last change.

The lead blew out to more than seven goals when Andrew Carey kicked his third for Albury from a great snap early in the last term, but that proved the end of the road for the home team as it stopped in its tracks.

Corowa-Rutherglen rammed home six of the final seven goals of the match with Reynoldson cashing in on some sloppy defence to provide plenty of optimism for the Roo faithful with a tough draw ahead.