THE traditional Anzac Day Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) clash between Hamilton Kangaroos and Portland went down to the wire with the Tigers holding on to win by 23 points at Melville Oval on Monday.

The Kangaroos dominated proceedings early, but inaccuracy cost the team maximum results.

It took 21 minutes for the Tigers to kick their first goal of the game, as the home side kicked 3.5 to the Tigers’ 2.2 in the opening term.

Portland had the scoring end in the second quarter, but it was Rory Gill who gave the home side the ideal start, but it was all the Tigers from then on, piling on six goals to two, to grab a 16-point lead at the main break.

Hamilton playing-coach, Hamish Waldron, slotted the first goal of the final term and scores were level three minutes in, but the Tigers held on to win, 14.12 (96) to 10.13 (73).

Waldron told The Spectator post game that inaccuracy and inefficiency inside the forward 50 cost the team any chance of victory.

“It is one that got away, we started so well, and we probably kicked ourselves out of the game more than anything,” he said.

Darcy Russell took plenty of contested marks and could have kicked the Kangaroos clear in the opening quarter, but was unable to get full reward.

Waldron backed the forward to find his range and bounce back and makes his opportunities count.

“He just couldn’t capitalise, just couldn’t get it through the big stick unfortunately,” he said.

“Footy is a funny game, next week he could come out and kick them all.”

The skipper also embraced the opportunity to play in the traditional Anzac Day fixture and said despite the loss, there were still signs of improvement.

“I said to them before the game, it is probably one of the biggest crowds we get to play in for the year, I told them to use it as energy and lift them to the next level,” he said.

“I put it on the boys that we needed to start better at the start of each quarter and it was spot on, but we just lapsed a bit in the second quarter.”

Russell finished the game with three majors to top the home team’s tally, while Ben Starkie was the only other multiple goal kicker with two.

Andrew Pepper was named the Roos’ best, along with Aaron Glare and Nathan Fall.

Portland’s Daniel Jackson was awarded the Ted Kenna VC Medal, his second consecutive Anzac Day best on ground award.