Busselton have defeated Augusta Margaret River on Sunday afternoon at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, in round nineteen of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, SWFL Premiership season, and all but stopped the Hawks from finishing third, and a Qualifying Final berth.
The Magpies set up their win in the opening quarter, with a blistering six goal burst to lead by twenty three points at quarter time. The two teams shared the honours in the second term, before the Hawks started to gain some momentum.
The Hawks had plenty of momentum in the third kicking three goals to two, but missed a couple of opportunities to narrow the margin further.
When Augusta Margaret River kicked the opening two goals of the final term the margin was back to eight points and a tense finish looked
likely, as the Hawks chances of drawing level with HBL on the ladder and a chance at a Qualifying Final looked like they were back on the table. But the Magpies rallied kicking the next four goals with Liam Creighton kicking a timely goal which would see the home side get the win by nineteen points.
Creighton and Mitch Tenardi along with the every reliable Jozef Parkinson all played well for Busselton, while Linc Adams and Kel Evans played well for the Hawks.
The Hawks now must beat Bunbury in the final home and away match to remain fourth and to host an Elimination Final. If Donnybrook win and the Hawks lose, Donnybrook will host the final instead. Meanwhile Busselton can’t make the finals, and it will be just the seventh time in SWFL history that both Grand Finalists haven’t played finals in the following season. They will play Dunsborough to finish the season in Dunsborough next Sunday.
Match Centre
Busselton 6.1.37 8.4.52 10.9.69 14.10.94
Aug Marg River 2.2.14 4.5.29 7.7.49 11.9.75
Goals: Busselton – Liam Creighton 4, Beau Chinnery 3, Mitchell Howlett 2, Dylan Patterson 2, Mitchell Tenardi 2, Aidan Austen 1. Augusta Margaret River – Jonah Brooks 2, Kaspa Donovan 2, Kel Evans 2, Jack Hick 2, Will Cassidy 1, Byron George 1, Max Spyvee 1.
Best: Busselton – Liam Creighton, Mitchell Tenardi, Jozef Parkinson, Tyler Lindberg, Mitchell Fraser, Ethan Bowman. Augusta Margaret River – Lincoln Adams, Kel Evans, Finn MacShane, Beau Morgan, Jack Hick, Ben Watson
Ground: Sir Stewart Bovell Park
Umpires: Braden Surrall, Paul Davey, Khye Skoda
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 589
Photos courtesy of Sharyn Newlands