South Bunbury have advanced to the Get Careers Colts Grand Final, with an eleven point win over Augusta Margaret River on Sunday at Hands Memorial Oval.
It took six minutes to get the first score with the ball going from end to end with the pressure right up in the early going. Zenon Parsons eventually found himself free to put through the opening goal for South Bunbury.
Toby McGee got loose and kicked a good goal on the run for the Tigers and soon after Wesley Higgins did likewise and all of a sudden South Bunbury led by seventeen points. Noah Piavanini received a free kick close to quarter time and he duly converted with the Tigers dominating the opening term.
Leading by twenty three points at quarter time, the Hawks desperately needed the first goal of the second, and Kobi Walton provided the spark the Hawks were looking for. The Hawks were dominating general play but the Tigers defence were resolute. The Hawks several set shots at goal, and eventually the Tigers were able get free, with Nehemiah Brown having four bounces along the outer side, kicking a great goal on the run giving South Bunbury a twenty two point lead at the main break.
An errant handball lead to the Tigers kicking the opening goal of the third term via Taj Allan, with the margin moving out to twenty eight points. Both defensive lines were well on top with scoring at a premium, with Cassidy Barr breaking the deadlock with a good set shot kick allowing for the breeze perfectly. Shortly after Mitch Joliffe snapped a good goal which just cleared the scoring line reducing the margin back to sixteen points.
The last thing the Hawks needed was an early goal in the last to the Tigers and that is what happened with Noah Piavanini converting a set shot to extend the margin yet again. The Hawks never gave up, with Nate Poulsen snapping truly, narrowing the margin to seventeen points with six minutes to play. The Hawks closed the gap further but ultimately fell eleven points short with South Bunbury moving into the Grand Final where they will play Harvey Brunswick Leschenault. After finishing the regular season as minor premiers, the Hawks will finish officially third.
SCOREBOARD
South Bunbury 4.0.24 5.3.33 6.4.40 7.6.48
Aug Marg River 0.1.1 1.5.11 3.5.23 5.8.38
Goals: South Bunbury – Noah Piavanini 2, Taj Allan 1, Nehemiah Brown 1, Wesley Higgins 1, Toby McGee 1, Zanon Parsons 1. Augusta Margaret River – Cassidy Barr 1, Mitchell Joliffe 1, Nate Poulsen 1, Kobi Walton 1, Tom Joyce
Best: South Bunbury – Nehemiah Brown, Toby McGee, Connor Pearson, Cooper Mattaboni, Noah Piavanini, Owen Scott. Augusta Margaret River – Sam Joyce, Cael Edmonds, Taashi Dingey, Leroy Anderson, Tom Joyce, Culann Murray
Ground: Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires: Toby Potter, Spencer Drummond, Lucas Billett
Crowd: 1000 approx
