South Bunbury have come from thirty two points down in the third term, to defeat Bunbury on Sunday afternoon at Hands Memorial Oval in round nineteen of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, South West Football League premiership season.
The Tigers kicked just one goal in the opening half, but kicked the last six goals of the match to down the Bulldogs, who for most of the contest looked the better side.
It was all Bunbury in the opening term, with Baiden Parsons kicking the opening goal within the first three minutes, giving the Bulldogs the perfect start. Dylan Heasman chimed in with a goal, while later in the term Mackenna Taylor goaled after taking a mark on the behind line. In between time, South Bunbury couldn’t buy a goal, missing five times, nearly all from long range.
It was much of the same in the second quarter, although the opening goal went the way of Ethan Nordahl. Haydn Busher had a purple patch, kicking two goals in three minutes, with the Dogs going into half time 32 points in front.
The margin ballooned to 38 points early in the third when Parsons kicked his third, before the tide started to turn. Goals to Kade Wallrodt and Shaun Crane on the run narrowed the margin at the Tigers started to gain some momentum. Three goals in three minutes at the end of the third term, saw the margin trimmed to fourteen points at the final change.
Jace Cormack narrowed it further, early in the last term, and when Jye Clark snapped a great goal at the eight minute margin, the margin was just one point, and the Tigers were surging. Ethan Nordahl snapped a clever goal to put the Tigers in front, with Kade Wallrodt putting the game beyond doubt with a goal in the dying minutes.
When all seemed lost the Tigers found a way yet again to get back into the contest, setting up an exciting finish to the home and away season. Busselton sit on top of the ladder by 1.64 percent and will play Donnybrook on Saturday evening. The Tigers will play Harvey Brunswick Leschenault on Sunday and will know the equation of how much they need to been the Lions by to claim top spot. The Lions can spoil the party by winning and potentially finishing fourth, should Collie Eagles defeat Carey Park on the Saturday.
The Tigers by way of their victory also retained the Syd Jackson-Max Maguire Cup.
SCOREBOARD
South Bunbury 0.5.5 1.6.12 6.10.46 10.12.72
Bunbury 3.3.21 6.8.44 8.12.60 8.14.62
Goals: South Bunbury – Ethan Nordahl 3, Jye Clark 2, Jace Cormack 1, Shaun Crane 1, Rhys Crawford 1. Bunbury – Baiden Parsons 3, Haydn Busher 2, Dylan Heasman 1, Kane Mitchell 1, Mackenna Taylor 1.
Best: South Bunbury – Jace Cormack, Shaun Crane, Kade Szyszka, Jack Wright, Ben Horsman, Rhys Crawford. Bunbury – Durak Tucker, Trae Field, Haydn Busher, Mason Hawkes, Kane Mitchell, Denholm King
Umpires: Scott Jones, Braden Surrall, Khye Skoda
Crowd: 852
