Bunbury have won the Solahart Reserves Qualifying Final in a thrilling finish, defeating Carey Park by three points at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, with the lead changing hands four times in the final quarter.
A dour opening quarter saw just two goals kicked, both to Bunbury with Ben Cherry and Travis Durnin the recipients, with Bunbury leading by ten points at quarter time.
Jordan Wallam, the competitions leading goal kicker would take a strong mark at the start of the second term and duly converted to put the Panthers on the board. Joel Houghton found himself in the right spot to run into an open goal to give the Bulldogs a ten point lead. Jordan McGinley snapped a long range goal as the margin extended to sixteen points. When Dylan Wicksteed converted Bunbury had a twenty one point lead, and the Bulldogs were well on top. Tanner Reid took a good pack mark in the goals square to reduce the margin again, as the game started to open up.
Wallam started the third quarter brilliantly with a strong mark before curling the ball around the left goal post to reduce the margin back to nine points. The Panthers were dominating the quarter but were struggling to get value in front of goals. Tempers started to get heated leading to two players being sent from the field. Shortly after Cameron Baker snapped a goal for the Panthers reducing the margin to one point.
Jordan Wallam put claim to goal of the match at the beginning of the final term, with a one handed pick up and snap, which put the Panthers in front for the first time since the three minute mark of the first term. Houghton restored the lead for Bunbury with a set shot from 55m and the intensity lifted. Wallam couldn’t stay out of the match taking a screamer but he missed the resultant shot at goal. With six minutes remaining, Max DiLallo received a free kick 40m out, with the ball just clearing the scoring line to give the Panther back the lead again. Houghton wasn’t done with at the other end, converting from deep in the pocket as Bunbury took back the lead with three minutes remaining.
In a thrilling final few minutes both teams had opportunities to win the match, with Bunbury hanging on by three points. The Bulldogs will now play HBL, while Carey Park will play either South Bunbury or Donnybrook in a first semi-final.
SCOREBOARD
Bunbury 2.1.13 5.1.31 5.3.33 7.5.47
Carey Park 0.3.3 2.4.16 4.6.30 6.8.44
Goals: Bunbury – Joel Houghton 3, Ben Cherry 1, Travis Durnin 1, Jordan McGinley 1, Dylan Wicksteed 1. Carey Park – Jordan Wallam 3, Cameron Baker 1, Max DiLallo 1, Tanner Reid 1.
Best: Bunbury – Jordan McGinley, Joel Houghton, Keegan Williams, Private player, Scott Doncon, Travis Durnin. Carey Park – Jarrad Italiano, Jordan Wallam, Jack Jordan, Zachary Ryder, James Mead, Bill Brown
Ground: Sir Stewart Bovell Park
Umpires: Michael Hearne, Peter Traeger, Kevin Hutchins
Crowd: 800 approx
Photos courtesy of Sharyn Newlands