South Bunbury have won the Solahart South West, Reserves First Semi Final at Hands Memorial Oval on Sunday afternoon, with a 29 point win over Bunbury.
In perfect conditions, it would be a very low scoring affair, with just twelve goals kicked for the match.
In an even opening turn, Morgan Lane would kick the first goal of the match, with Hayden Gregory replying soon after. When Fraser Gilchrist strolled into an open goal at the ten minute mark, the Bulldogs hit the front, but it was short lived when Michael Battaglia kicked a
very long goal at the Northern End.
After quarter time the Tigers started to dominate the contest with Rhys Crawford, Jye Cormack and Matt Giacci starting to get plenty of possessions, which would lead to goals to Guy Piggott and Adam Hunter, both with set shots. With the Tigers leading by fifteen points, the Bulldogs needed to respond and a goal against the run of play to Gilchrist narrowed the margin back to ten points, but a goal with twelve seconds remaining in the second quarter by Piggott who snapped a great goal, had the Tigers full of confidence at the half time break, leading by fifteen points again.
The match would be won in the third term, with the Tigers kicking three unanswered goals, opening a commanding lead in the context of the contest, with Gilchrist kicking the only goal in the final term, which would see the Tigers remain alive, and now will face Harvey Brunswick Leschenault in the Preliminary Final.
Match Centre
South Bunbury 2.3.15 5.4.34 8.5.53 8.7.55
Bunbury 2.0.12 3.1.19 3.2.20 4.2.26
Goals: South Bunbury – Guy Piggott 3, Adam Hunter 2, Michael Battaglia 1, Aaron Jarvis 1, Morgan Lane 1. Bunbury – Fraser Gilchrist 3, Hayden Gregory 1.
Best: South Bunbury – Rhys Crawford, Jye Cormack, Matt Giacci, Riley Westra, Toby Mcnaughton, Owen Scott. Bunbury – Jordan McGinley, Eliah Munro, Thomas Quaife, Keegan Williams, Aaron Mills, Fraser Gilchrist.
Ground: Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires: Michael Hearne, Kevin Hutchins, Daniel Ebert
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1421
Photos courtesy of Wayne Hislop