Premiers Buffs edged out Tigers in a Mount Isa AFL triller at Legend Oval on Saturday.
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The North West Star arrived at the ground at three quarter time where just two points separated the teams and as the final quarter progressed the margin was never more than 16 points in either direction.
At the final break Tigers held the lead 9-9 (63) to 9-7 (61) but it was the Buffalo boys who came out firing first as the last act began.
They tapped the ball out of the centre and applied the pressure which was rewarded with the first goal of the quarter to snatch a four point lead.
They repeated the dose with the next play, winning the ball in the ruck and then unerring slotting the ball between the posts to go 10 clear.
When they made it three goals in three minutes it seemed they had the momentum and the game in the bag.
But back came the Tigers, firstly unlucky to hit a post before finding their range to narrow the gap to nine points.
They got the ball out of the middle only to strike the post again.
However they showed their resilience to quickly bag another major and suddenly we had a one point ball game again.
Buffs then had a set shot in front of goal charged down for a behind as desperation set in but they recovered to get another priceless goal to give themselves a small eight point breathing margin as the clock ticked on towards the siren.
Back back Tigers to kick another goal but tiring legs left Buffs in with an easy open goal.
With a minute to go Tigers kicked another goal following a 50m penalty as the cry “win it from the middle” roared out.
But Tigers ran out of time and Buffs held on to win 14-7 (91) to 13-11 (89), straighter kicking the difference.