Bunbury will meet South Bunbury in the Second Semi Final next Sunday at Hands Memorial Oval, after the Bulldogs defeated Harvey Brunswick Leschenault at PC Payne Park on Sunday afternoon.
In front of more the 1500 fans, the bumper crowd were witness to a close contest with both sides having periods of ascendancy.
In a low scoring match, the biggest margin would be twenty two points midway through the final term.
The opening quarter was goal for goal, the the Lions marginally ahead for the duration until just before the quarter time siren Xavier Williamson leveled the scores at 19 apiece at the first break.
The second quarter was just as tight, with Joel Houghton a focal point up forward, taking some strong marks.
Leading by three points at half time, no one in the crowd knew which way the match was going to pan out, and even at three quarter time when the margin was nine points, there was no real indication that one side was going to dominate the final term over the other. Mackenna Taylor kicked two final quarter goals, which gave the Bulldogs the upper hand and despite a late goal to the Lions, the deficit would be too great.
Dylan Heasman and Jesse Kirwen were particularly damaging for the Bulldogs, while Ty Anderson appeared to be everywhere for the Lions, while Jack Fletcher also played a good game.
Bunbury will now play South Bunbury for the third time this season, with the winner to go through to the Grand Final. Harvey Brunswick Leschenault will play Donnybrook on Saturday at Brunswick Oval in the first semi final.
Match Details
Bunbury 3.1.19 5.4.34 7.6.48 9.8.62
Harv Bruns Lesch 3.1.19 5.1.31 6.3.39 7.6.48
Goals: Bunbury – Joel Houghton 4, Mackenna Taylor 2, Denholm King 1, Cooper Nitschke 1, Xavier Williamson 1. Harvey Brunswick Leschenault – Marcus Jodrell 2, Billy Boucher 1, Blake Offer 1, Tristan Ramshaw 1, Joshua Tartaglia 1, Emmett Templeton 1.
Best: Bunbury – Dylan Heasman, Jesse Kirwen, Harry Creasey, Joel Houghton, Max Bilcich, Connor Walker. Harvey Brunswick Lescheanult – Jack Fletcher, Ty Anderson, Thomas Heenan, Connor Carbone, Ned Gualter, Jonathan Fenwick.
Ground: PC Payne Park
Umpires: Cameron Valenti, Talen Guthrie, Khye Skoda
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1515
Photos courtesy of Jon Gellweiler