BUFFALOES showed they are a team on the rise in the AFL Mount Isa competition with a hard-fought five-point win over ladder-leading Tigers.
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The 8.7 (55) to 6.14 (50) win at Legend Oval on Saturday consolidates Buffaloes' place in the top two as the season draws towards finals.
A strong breeze blew across Legend Oval and this played a major factor in the match's outcome.
Tigers had the breeze at their backs in the first quarter but were wasteful in front of goals.
The black and yellow kicked 2.6 for the quarter, while Buffaloes made the most of their chances, kicking three straight.
``Our back six forced Tigers attackers to rush their shots in front of goals in the first quarter,'' Buffaloes head coach Brad Nunn said.
Buffaloes then booted three goals five in the second quarter with Charlie Johnston kicking two.
Buffaloes went into the interval leading 41-24, but Tigers started the third quarter ominously with the wind at their backs.
Two goals and five behinds for the period allowed Tigers to close the gap to just two points (43-41) heading into the final quarter.
Nunn gave his troops a strong serve in the final break, saying they need to apply more pressure.
``Our pressure in the half-forward line really dropped in the third, which unfairly put more pressure on our back six,'' he said.
``I knew if we were going to go on and win, we needed to improve that aspect in the fourth.''
Buffaloes held their nerve in a tight final quarter, with crucial goals from Blake Cowley and Matt Dwor sealing the courageous five-point upset victory.
``Ryan White and Scott Dalton were exceptional in our midfield, constantly putting their bodies on the line to secure the ball,'' Nunn said.
``But it was our defenders - Liam Guides, Brad Thompson and Harley Giles - that hung tough and got us over the line''.
Tigers' coach Craig Brice said his players weren't at their best on Saturday.
``We weren't very organised to start the match, especially when Paul Tarverner left the field after just two minutes and didn't return,'' he said.
``It wasn't til the third quarter that we actually woke up and decided to play footy.''
Despite the loss, Brice found positives from the game.
``Jason Boydle [ruck] and Barney Crawford [forward flank] both had handy games and put us in a position to win,'' he said.
``I thought our captain Jarryd Harrison was inspirational too, coming back after a first-quarter knock and dominating the centre circle for us.''
Buffaloes have now won two on the trot heading into a clash with Rovers.