IT was the Tigers who rose to the occasion, collecting their first Open win of the Hampden Football Netball League season when they accounted for the Hamilton Kangaroos by 21 goals on Monday.

Neither team could edge clear in the opening minutes, as the arm wrestle continued before Kangaroos centre, Kellie Sommerville, was subbed off with a calf injury.

It forced Hamilton coach, Nat O’Dea, to once again spin the magnets, and Portland started to get on top of the contest at that point and edged out to a 14-11 lead at the first break.

The margin had grown to eight goals at the main break with Jessica Cook causing headaches in goals for the Kangaroos.

The second half saw the Tigers get more reward for their effort and when midcourter, Kyra McKinnis, went off with injury at the final break, the Kangaroos were again left with a reduced bench to finish the game.

Portland continued to create turnovers and went on to record a 59-38 win in the round three clash.

O’Dea said the team was rattled by the injuries and errors crept into their game.

“There was some inaccuracy at the post but also throughout the whole court, we made silly errors like off-sides and breaking and really uncharacteristic things,” she said.

“Kel just felt a bit of a pull in the first couple of minutes and she just called it and she felt if she did play on, she would hurt herself more.

“We have two injuries out of the game, so that brings us up to five, which is half the side.”

It means Sherlock got time in centre after starting in goal defence, while Eve Duckmanton was moved to wing defence late in the game and Ella Sevior also got more court time in goals.

O’Dea said it was like Groundhog Day with the injury toll growing weekly.

“It is frustrating, but it is also character building, who would have thought three games in you’d have half your team out,” she said.

“Poor Hayls (Hayley Sherlock) gets kicked wherever I need her to go, but she rises to every challenge.

“Hopefully in 10 days after a break, we should be fresher, and Emma (Sommerville) will be back along with Leesa (Iredell).

“I told the girls not to stew on it, we can’t help anybody, and we just need to move on, and it is how we rise as a team.

Portland’s Madeline Stone was awarded the Ted Kenna VC Medal for her efforts in defence.