Bunbury are the first team into the Tronox Women’s Grand Final, after defeating Harvey Bulls on Sunday afternoon at PC Payne Park in front of a big crowd.
Aside from a five minute patch late in the second quarter, the Bulldogs dominated the match, and looked dangerous every time the ball entered the forward line.
Poppy Stockwell kicked the only goal of the first quarter with an excellent snap from the pocket. Stockwell kicked the opening goal of the second term on the run, and when Sarina Tassone goaled, things started to look ominous for the Bulls who were yet to score. Tassone would
goal again, as would Caitlin Ward as the margin reached 32 points, before the Bulls answered with good goals in quick succession to Caitlin Shales and Larissa Versaci.
If the Bulls thought they were getting back in the match, Daisy Rigby quelled those ideas with three quick goals in the third term to give the Bulldogs a large lead. The final term was a dour affair with Bunbury kicking one behind for the quarter to be victorious by 41 points.
The win puts the Bulldogs into the Grand Final, their seventh in eight seasons, while Harvey will play Busselton next Sunday at Hands Oval in the Preliminary Final.
Match Centre
Bunbury 1.1.7 5.2.32 8.4.52 8.5.53
Harvey Bulls 0.0.0 2.0.12 2.0.12 2.0.12
Goals: Bunbury – Daisy Rigby 3, Poppy Stockwell 2, Sarina Tassone 2, Caitlin Ward 1. Harvey Bulls – Caitlin Shales, Larissa Versaci.
Best: Bunbury – Melinda Bobby, Daisy Rigby, Ebony Bilcich, Kloe Bassett, Abby Gellard, Tara Lee Clifford. Harvey Bulls – Rachel Wright, Larissa Versaci, Sierraleone Simpson, Baylee Howard, Larissa Tartaglia, Harmony Staszewski-Hose.
Ground: PC Payne Park
Umpires: Ollie Miles, Greg Rolfe
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1525
Photos courtesy of Jon Gellweiler