After a frustratingly low-scoring and scrappy first half, both sides were bogged down on the scoreboard.

They had only scored three goals each at half time.

Something had to give and when the floodgates opened, it was Tiger half back Michael Searl who got the ball rolling.

Searl found himself in the forward 50m towards the end of the third term and booted three goals in three minutes.

Drew Tyler finished off the third quarter with a great running shot as he converted the seventh goal for the term.

It was a breakthrough quarter for the Tigers and gave them a four-goal lead going into the final term.

And Springbank had plenty in reserve, belting Buninyong on the scoreboard again with a seven-goal burst in the last.

It could have been a shocker for the Bombers except for Springbank's rotten kicking. The Tigers had 15 scoring shots to a meager Buninyong tally of three after the main break.

There were doubts that Springbank spearhead Paul McMahon would play after struggling with a quadriceps problem.

McMahon took his place in the forward line and early on took some great marks, but significantly didn't have any set shots.

He left the ground before half time and didn't return.

McMahon was rested and the Tigers will have a fortnight to iron out his injury woes.

Springbank's goal-kickers included Billy Driscoll, Mitchell Keighrey, Hugh Millikan, Matt Tyler, Jarryd Underwood and captain Chris Quinlan.

Robbie Lockett had the honour of kicking the Tigers’ first major of the day and also the last.

Samuel Cue, Joel Maher, Shannon Donegan and Justin Simpson were among those who stood fast against a desperate Buninyong.

Among the Bomber scorers, it was Sam Turner and Jarrod Rodgers who stood out. Rodgers kicked a terrific goal in the last term after he stole the ball from a contest and kicked it home.

Best for Buninyong included Anthony Ebery, Josh Renga, Chris Oliver, Sam Gibson and Jarrod Morgan.

GJ Gardner Tigers coach Terry Simpson was more than happy with the way his side broke open the game in the second half.

"It was a very pleasing second half. It was very close...the first half. It was a tough brand of footy both teams played,” Simpson said.

"It wasn't until half time we started to move the ball better. The goals in the third quarter were sensational. 

"The players came out and showed a lot of character. Searl was a fantastic target up forward."

Buninyong co-coach Jake Bridges described the clash as "tight, close footy...as it should be".

"To their credit, they got a couple of blokes loose,” he said.

"The gap between our really good footy and our worst footy is too big...that's being pretty honest.”