On Saturday the Tigers did exactly that when calling upon reserve RMS AFL Townsville full-forward Joshua Bourne for the second week in a row.

While he failed to make an immediate impact when first promoted against Curra, his six-goal bag against University sealed a hard-fought 15.8 (98) to 8.15 (63) win by the undermanned yellow-and-black.

The secret wasn't in the untapped talent of Bourne, but in how to service it.

"We had to change our structure to get him the football closer to goal where he likes it," coach Barry Gibson said. "He took a few great marks for us and really impressed."

Reinventing Tigers football was the least of Saturday's gambles with Gibson naming a team of 21, deciding to play senior and reserve grade games a man down to give both outfits the best chance of success in a tough situation.

He hit the jackpot when two Tiger cubs promoted out of necessity, Jarrod Cavalot and Jay Allen, impressed in their first top-flight appearance. And they weren't just making up numbers, with winger Cavalot and fellow 16-year-old O'Donnell - in just his third senior game - slotting decisive late goals.

It was a combination of youthful bravado and a protective detail headed by captain Andrew Grubba, Lyle Clifford and John Brazendale, in his first game back in more than a month, to open the game up for the teenagers to flourish.

"We had a few big bodies in the middle, getting to the football first to fill those young guys with confidence to put their head over the ball," Gibson said.

HERMIT PARK 5.3 7.5 10.7 15.8 (98)UNIVERSITY 1.1 5.5 5.10 8.15 (63)

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A MOMENT of hesitant silence fell over University when they gathered in the team huddle to celebrate a drought-breaking RMS AFL Townsville win on Saturday.

There was nothing profound about the quietness that followed the 9.9 (63) to 8.12 (60) upset of second-placed Hermit Park, the men in brown and gold had simply forgotten the words to the team song.

For the longest time in the club's proud history the happy Hawks chant had not been heard, with the perennial Townsville football powerhouse going winless in their first 11 matches this season.

Co-captain Tyler Fidoe could afford to smile when he stuttered at the beginning of a heartfelt rendition of the song.

"Yeah, I just had to stop for a second to remember them," he laughed.

But he quickly found his voice to lead the team in song for the first time since taking over the captaincy with Phil Burger, the result having ended their feeling of dread that they may be the first skippers to fail to score a win for Uni.

"That mantle was only out there for one day in the paper and it's gone," Fidoe said.

"It's a huge weight off our shoulders and I think it takes the pressure off all of us now."

Doing all the heavy lifting for the Hawks against the Tigers was a resilient back line of Liam Arnott, Ryan Kelly and Adam Connell.

"They spoiled and rebounded the ball back into play incredibly well for us," Fidoe said.

UNIVERSITY 2.3 8.6 8.7 9.9 (63)

HERMIT PARK 2.4 2.6 6.11 8.12 (60)

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