AMERICAN novelist James Lane Allen never quite made it to Bottomley Park. However, the 19^th century writer’s famous quote – “adversity does not build character, it reveals it” – rang loud and true around Tigerland in Round 2 of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.

It was gritty – not pretty – but the character-filled 31-28 comeback victory over Wests was a thing of beauty for the Stara Easts Tigers who remain undefeated in 2025. The visiting Bulldogs led 21-7 after 28 minutes and then held a 28-19 buffer in the second half after a host of momentum swings delivered a cracking high-quality contest. The Wests pack matched the aggression and physicality of the home side, the Bulldogs kicking game kept the Tigers on the backfoot while their backline looked dangerous whenever they chanced their arm to hold sway for extended periods.

However, the 2025 Tigers are made of stern stuff with a focus on digging deep and showing collective character and courage in the dying minutes of each half. Easts were able to stem the considerable flow in favour of the Bulldogs to score twice midway through the second half to grab an unlikely 31-28 lead courtesy of well-executed rolling maul tries to man-of-the-match Nuku Swerling and hooker Max Craig.

Momentum would swing violently again as Wests enjoyed a lion’s share of possession and field position to virtually set-up camp at the Halifax St end and set the stage for an edge-of-your-seat finish.

The Bulldogs relentlessly pounded the Easts tryline defence with wave after wave of attacking raids for the best part of 15 minutes.

Wests threw everything – including the kitchen sink – at the Tigers in the closing stages, declining relatively easy shots at penalty goal to level the scores to instead set-up rolling mauls from lineouts.

The Bulldogs had already crossed for two tries from rolling mauls during their first half blitz so they were confident of delivering the manoeuvre once more. But the Tigers were able to continually repel Wests with desperate defensive acts as Easts were reduced to 14 men with four minutes left on the clock.

To a man, they tackled themselves to a standstill to claim a significant win and reveal the depth of character contained in the blue-and-gold jumpers. Significant in the sense that it may prove to be worth far more than just competition points on the StoreLocal Hospital Cup ladder. Victories like that can provide priceless confidence, belief and trust in a group that can be called upon when backs are to the wall again. As they surely will be. Swerling was excellent again for the Tigers with two tries, a host of tough carries and some crunching defence in tight. The no.8 powerhouse scored early in the second half from a beautifully worked lineout move when he swept from the back of the lineout to the front to create a favourable match-up with the isolated Bulldogs blindside defence.

His second came from a rolling maul after Easts declined a shot at penalty goal and were rewarded when Swerling dived over from close range.

Outside centre Jarrod Homan continued his comeback from injury with a pivotal try just before halftime to keep the Tigers in touch with a gutsy outside-in line to crash through the Wests defence and score near the posts. He also crossed in the opening minutes after Easts pounced on a Wests turnover and Homan was in the right place, at the right time to accept a clever offload from winger Gus Godwin.

The Tigers will travel to the Gold Coast next Saturday to take on Bond University.