KATAMATITE coach Tyson Saunders has labelled Saturday’s crunch clash with Shepparton East as a must-win.
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In what will be captain Jayson Biggs’ 150th game for the club, Saunders said Katamatite needed to claim the four points if it wanted to keep pace with the South East’s top tier.
The Tigers were overrun late by premiership favourite Tungamah at the weekend and face the proverbial “eight-point game” against second-placed East this Saturday.
“It’s absolutely massive,” Saunders said.
“Not getting the points against Waaia might come back to bite us a bit so it makes this one a must win.”
The Tigers sit third, on 12 points, after five rounds and shape as the biggest challenger to the two South East heavyweights this year.
Saunders says things are on track.
“We had a bit of an influx of players so it’s taken a bit for them to get used to the way we want to play,” he said.
“We made a goal that we wanted to be at least 4-3 after seven games and we’re on track for that.”
Katamatite burst out of the blocks against the Bears last weekend and an upset loomed early in the game.
The Tigers were four goals in front at quarter-time and still held a narrow lead at the final change.
But Tungamah ran out 20-point winners.
“Obviously they are flag favourites at this stage but I was a bit disappointed we didn’t win,” Saunders said.
“I thought we really had our opportunities but made a few poor decisions at important times.”