SWFL: Bunbury keep double chance with 14-point first qualifying final win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault

Bunbury maintained their South West Football League double chance at Payne Park on Sunday with a 14-point victory over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault in the first qualifying final. The Bulldogs were eventually too good for the Lions in an arm wrestle of an affair, running out 9.8 (62) to 7.6 (48) winners to set up a highly-anticipated rematch with South Bunbury in the second qualifying final next weekend. On a day when goals were at a premium with blustery conditions making scoring difficult, Joel Houghton’s four majors proved critical for the winners, who were also well served by their old guard of Dylan Heasman, Connor Walker and Jesse Kirwen. Ty Anderson, Connor Carbone and Jack Fletcher did everything they could for the Lions, who did regain dynamic forward Blake Offer but were still without Jarrod Humphries, badly missing their spearhead with several of their attacking opportunities coming to nothing. Leading by nine points at the main break, Mackenna Taylor proved the match-winner for the hosts, capitalising on an errant switch from Jono Fenwick to kick their first goal of the term before breaking a tackle to snap another soon after. Marcus Jodrell’s second goal closed the gap but came too late for the visitors, who were left to rue some chances which went begging in the final term. A tight and tense first two quarters saw back-to-back Lions goals in the first term go down as the only consecutive majors of the half, with each goal from the hosts answered by the visitors. In a sign of what was to come, Bunbury captain Denholm King converted a set shot to get his side the first goal of the day but Billy Boucher responded with a soccered effort only moments later. The hosts did take a three-point advantage into the main break, which would had been bigger had Xavier Williamson not pinged an after-the-siren set shot into the post. HBL reclaimed the lead early in the second half through Emmett Templeton, who drifted across the front of the pack to reel in an impressive mark and made no mistake with his set shot. Houghton responded with two critical goals to ensure the Bulldogs took an advantage into the final term, the first coming after he was picked out to take a free kick for a high tackle on Harry Creasey — leaving the Lions bench aggrieved — and the second coming after he marked from a downfield free kick for a late hit on Connor Walker. Bunbury held on despite being down to only two rotations for much of the last term, with Jesse Gribble pulled in for what coach Troy Hollands described as a precautionary move due to a “tight hamstring” and Jaymin King’s day ending early due to a rolled ankle.