Bunbury have broken an eight game losing streak against South Bunbury to win the Dale Alcock Homes South West, WA Day Derby at a wind swept PC Payne Park on Sunday afternoon.
The match doubled as the Syd Jackson-Max McGuire Cup, with Bunbury claiming victory by 37 points.
Played in less than ideal conditions, both sides went into the contest with seven victories, and Bunbury won the toss and kicked with a wind that would see play almost exclusively played on the outer side. Bunbury started brilliantly with Nathan Blakely kicking the opening goal within two minutes, before the match turned into an arm wrestle, with the busiest people on the ground being the three boundary umpires as the ball, time and time again went out of bounds. Jackson Oliver kicked a clever goal to give Bunbury a two goal lead, which they would carry through to the quarter time break.
South Bunbury dominated the second term with the win but couldn’t find the major opening, kicking four behinds, as the Bunbury defence was put under plenty of pressure but appeared up to the task. But two quick goals to Kade Szyszka and Jace Cormack put the Tigers in front for the first time in the match, as the Tigers went to half time two points in front.
After the major break, Bunbury dominated the contest, keeping South Bunbury scoreless in the second half, something nobody saw coming, with Dylan Heasman breaking the game open, kicking two goals in the third term, before kicking the final goal of the match, who along with Fraser Gilchrist found a way to score a goal at the Northern End.
Sadly the conditions didn’t allow either side to play their best football, played in some of the windiest conditions in recent memory.
Both sides have the bye in round eleven, with South Bunbury to take on Augusta Margaret River in round twelve, while Bunbury will host Eaton
SCOREBOARD
Bunbury 2.2.14 2.3.15 6.6.42 8.6.54
South Bunbury 0.1.1 2.5.17 2.5.17 2.5.17
Goals: Bunbury – Dylan Heasman 3, Fraser Gilchrist 2, Nathan Blakely 1, Haydn Busher 1, Jackson Oliver 1. South Bunbury – Jace Cormack 1, Kade Szyszka 1.
Best: Bunbury – Brenton Hilton, Trae Field, Harry Creasey, Aidan Clarke, Nathan Blakely, Dylan Heasman. South Bunbury – Jace Cormack, Thomas Gorter, Ben McGuire, Kade Wallrodt, Kevin Chitty, Toby Hawkins
Ground: PC Payne Park
Umpires: Aaron Andrews, Khye Skoda, Zac Schurko
Crowd: 782
Photos courtesy of Jon Gellweiler