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Approaching the end of the first-grade game on Sunday, everything in Tigerland looked peachy. We were leading the previously unbeaten Lakemba Sports team 1-0, and only hours before the Under 20s had earned themselves a valuable point. But as the shadows lengthened across the ground, sadness was about to strike the club. Who could have guessed the tragedy that was to follow...

Turning first to the start of the day's proceedings, and the Tigers were finally back at Birchgrove on Saturday after a run of four away games. The weather was typically spectacular, the Exchange Hotel, Gillespies Cranes and Bracewell signs were out and attracting the usual admiration, the nets set the bar for the league and the smell of Balmain's famous chicken kebabs filled the ground.

No surprise then that the hill was packed for the top of the table Under 20s match. Coach Alex 'Low-cal' Kaltenegger sent out an attack-minded squad, with the club's top-scorer Sasha at left back (well, if the Mariners could do it...). Lakemba sent out a flock of council workers. It was sure to be a pushover.

These council boys could run though. My word could they run! If we didn't know it before, we did now - the Tigers were in a game. Birchgrove's famously narrow pitch wasn't making things particularly easy for either team but Diego and Dave were working hard in the midfield, and Carl was filling in ably in sweeper.

It meant a difficult day for strikers Matt and Jules, who enjoyed his entire family offering their own brand of support and affection on his return from the UK. Still, against this difficult, thus-far unbeaten Lakemba side, the Tigers stood firm and came away with a hard-earned point that keeps them close to the table's summit.

For first-grade, deadline dealings couldn't get new signing Ilia out onto the field, so the Tigers retained a side similar to last week. The only change was the return of Shenol to midfield, who was rested last week after the Brick Footy Nationals.

Boy did we start with intent! Crunching into challenges and pressuring Lakemba across the ground, within the first half hour we created a handful of chances. Sadly though Lakemba, who seemed to have borrowed Sydney Cedars kit for the day, withstood the barrage. After the initial onslaught, the match settled into a rhythm. It wasn't particularly pretty, and we were definitely taking time to adjust to the Birchgrove's narrow confines, but still threatened from set pieces and Lakemba errors.

Finally the breakthrough came in the second half. Luis won a freekick on the edge of the area and Anthony smashed it home, burning the keeper's fingers with a stinging drive. Definitely one for baby Trieste.

1-0 up was a familiar place to be for the Tigers, and we seemed to be doing it comfortably. Soon however, tragedy was to strike...

A misplaced Danny T shot flew into the crowd, hitting club legend Abe Stirling in the kebab. Having just sat down he had yet to pull out the stick - it was to prove his downfall. The impact of the ball sent the kebab stick through Abe's voicebox and into his spine, killing him almost instantly. Before making the trip to the big Birchgrove Oval in the sky, he mouthed his final words, which were understood to be either "Birchgrove on a winter's Saturday - there's nothing I'd change" or "birds, beer, free food - I'm into Saturdays at the Exchange".

It was a shock for everyone, but not enough of one to prevent the Tigers conceding our customary late equaliser, before holding out for a valuable draw to remain unbeaten after five games.

But thoughts remained with Abe after the match. His memory will long be with the Tigers, and his spirit and love for the club will provide eternal inspiration. We'll miss you Abe. Some of us, anyway.

Next up it's crunch time against the old nemesis Hakoah following the Easter break. It's going to be a wild one - hold onto your hats/kippahs!