Bunbury have defeated Donnybrook on Sunday afternoon at PC Payne Park, in round nineteen of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, SWFL Premiership Season.
The match looked all but over midway through the third term, with the Bulldogs leading by 31 points, but a spirited final quarter brought the healthy crowd to life in a tense final ten minutes.
Cooper Nitschke opened the scoring for the Bulldogs, before Dylan Heasman converted courtesy of a 50m penalty. Kyle Potter reduced the margin when he strolled into an open goal to kick the first for the Dons. A snap at the eleven minute mark by Ben Frazer reduced the margin to two points, before Nitschke snapped a good goal on the run to give the Bulldogs and eight point lead. Both teams in the remaining ten minutes of the opening term had golden opportunities to goal but weren’t able to convert.
Denholm King kicked the Bulldogs clear in the opening minutes of the second quarter, before both defensive units quelled scoring for the next ten minutes. Sam Perkusich won a good one on one marking contest to give the Dons their third goal, but that was answered quickly by Travis Durnin who ran into an open goal to give the home side a two goal advantage. Kyle Potter snapped a very handy goal late in the term to reduce the margin to six points at half time, with the match set to go to the wire.
After half time, Bunbury kicked four very quick goals without the Dons scoring, to open a 31 point lead, the biggest of the match, with seemed to take the wind out of the Dons sails along with the crowd.
Harry Creasey was best on ground at Payne Park.However, the Dons replicated Bunbury’s third quarter effort, by kicking three quick goals to start the last term, reducing the margin to 12 points at the ten minute mark of the final term. Both teams again had opportunities to goal as the crowd came to life in a finals like atmosphere. Neither team could find the major opening in the final 14 minutes of the match, with Bunbury prevailing by eleven points, not scoring a goal in the final term.
Harry Creasey was outstanding for Bunbury and was presented with the game ball as part of the White Ribbon Round, while Bunbury took hold of the Peter Betti Cup.
Bunbury will play Augusta Margaret River at Gloucester Park next Saturday, and will finish second on the ladder and will host a Qualifying Final the week after. Should the Bulldogs beat the Hawks, the Hawks most likely will lose their hold on hosting the Elimination Final, which adds some spice to the contest. Donnybrook meanwhile, will play Carey Park on Sunday, with a win potentially giving them fourth place at the expense of the Hawks.
Match Centre
Bunbury 3.4.22 5.6.36 10.9.69 10.11.71
Donnybrook 2.2.14 4.6.30 5.8.38 8.12.60
Goals: Bunbury – Dylan Heasman 2, Denholm King 2, Cooper Nitschke 2, Harry Creasey 1, Travis Durnin 1, Fraser Gilchrist 1, Mackenna Taylor 1. Donnybrook – Ben Frazer 2, Kyle Potter 2, Archer Coates 1, Zac Jerrard 1, Kai Luzi 1, Sam Perkusich 1.
Best: Bunbury – Harry Creasey, Jethro Barraclough, Denholm King, Daniel Perks, Fraser Gilchrist, Travis Durnin. Donnybrook – Clayton Giblett, Ben Howlett, Jacob Kendle, Zac Jerrard, Aidan Hare, Jordan Falco
Ground: PC Payne Park
Umpires: Kevin Hutchins, Aaron Andrews, Cameron Valenti
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 805
Jethro Barraclough played another good game for Bunbury. Photos courtesy of Wayne Hislop