FREELING has fallen to its second successive defeat, this time going down to reigning premier Nuriootpa by 24 points in shocking conditions at Centennial Park.

Both sides scrapped early and couldn’t gain an ascendancy, with the visitors breaking away to lead by four points at quarter-time.

The Tigers also lost Kyle Westlake (shoulder) and Brad Brysky (ribs) to injury in the first half, putting them behind the eight-ball.

Neither side could split the big sticks in the second quarter, as the Legs kicked four behinds to the Tigers’ three.

This wasn’t a game for the highlight reel, as Nuri snatched the lead back in the third to lead by five points at the final change, having kicked 2.11 to Freeling’s 2.6.

However, once the rain cleared, the Tigers flexed their muscle and kicked away.

Tiger Ryan Foulis was the only multiple goal-kicker with two majors, while Alex Stengle, Blake Duregon and Josh Hand kicked Freeling’s three goals.

Nuriootpa playing-coach Henry Slattery commended his side’s effort in a gutsy win.

“It was quite a difficult first half for both teams,” he said.

“Freeling are quite a big, good, contested, inside team and they got the first couple of goals quickly.

“We managed to get one back, but it was a low-scoring first half.

“The second half we started to play some good footy, but didn’t really capitalise on some forward entries.

“We had a few opportunities to hit the scoreboard, but didn’t work well.

“In the last term, it felt like we had more legs and they were starting to get a bit tired, we managed to run out the game really well, and scored a few goals.

“In a low-scoring affair, it’s always good to beat good contested teams.

“I felt the team really turned a corner in our season.”

Slattery added it was good to repay the Redlegs after they pummelled his side in the wet last year.

“Last year when we played them, we touched them up early in the year – we beat them by 100 points – and then later in the year we played them there, and they touched us up a bit,” he said.

“They were ferocious at the footy and it was good to get one back.”

The Tigers will travel to South Gawler this Saturday, while Freeling hosts Willaston.