Lions over-run Eagles

Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault booted 13 goals after half-time to defeat the Collie Eagles by 36 points in an upset victory at the Collie Recreation Ground today.

Despite losing four of their past five games, including a 47-point loss to the Eagles seven days earlier, the Lions dominated the second half to win 15.11 (101) to 10.5 (65) and set up a date with Bunbury in the second semi-final.

The Lions had booted just the two goals to the main break, but were dominant in the opening 10 minutes, kicking one goal through David Newman to go along with five behinds.

Joel Houghton was the only Eagles player to get on the scoreboard in the first term, with the Lions leading by eight points.

It looked as if the Eagles would take control of the game in the second term, despite Brayden Prentice kicking the first goal of the term for the Lions.

Travis Cleggett, Kyle and Blake Shanahan and Corey Griggs began working the ball out of the midfield well and the Eagles kicked three goals in the final 10 minutes to go into the break with the momentum.

The Eagles’ lead could have been greater, if not for the efforts of Lions defender Ryan McKinlay, who took more than a dozen intercept marks and controlled the backline in the absence of co-captain Jordan Sell.

After the main break it was again a tough, contested match, with the Eagles booting two of the first three goals.

But a four-goal, four-minute burst by the Lions turned a 14-point deficit into a 10-point lead, as the game opened up and both sides began to move the ball more freely.

Dylan Heasman (five goals) began to find the football in the forward line, while Kristin Thornton (four goals) started to have an influence after a quiet first half.

The Lions began moving the ball quickly out of the centre and used short kicks and quick handballs to put pressure on the Eagles’ defence.

Houghton kept the Eagles in the game with a clever snap, but Heasman soon responded and if it was not for an opportunistic goal from Blair Malatesta (four goals), the Eagles would have been further than seven points behind at the main break.

It was all the Lions in the last term, with Thornton booting two more goals, while Lloyd Beever, Eli Smith and Zach Piper dominated in the midfield for the Lions.

The margin could have been greater, if not for two goals from Malatesta, who kept the scoreboard looking respectable.

Harv-Bruns-Lesch 1.8, 2.8, 8.11, 15.11, 101

Collie Eagles 1.0, 4.2, 8.4, 10.5, 65

Goals: Harv-Bruns-Lesch – D. Heasman 5, K. Thornton 4, B. Prentice 2, J. Sabourne, L. Beever, C. Pether, D. Newman. Collie Eagles – B. Malatesta 4, J. Houghton M. Florio, J. Fontana, A. Bignell, T. Vernon.

Best: Harv-Bruns-Lesch – R. McKinlay, D. Heasman, Z. Piper, K. Thornton, E. Smith, B. Prentice. Collie Eagles – T. Cleggett, M. Michael, K. Shanahan, A. Bignell, P. Rinder, B. Shanahan.

WOMEN’S

South Bunbury’s season is still alive after a dominant 54-point win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault in the first semi-final.

The Tigers were clearly the best team on the day and got some reward for effort in the final quarter when they kicked six goals on their way to a 9.14 (68) to 2.0 (12) victory.

South Bunbury never seemed troubled by the Lions, but their inaccuracy in the first half kept the opposition within arms reach of a surprise win.

The Tigers’ midfield of Aleesha Cheema, Phoebe Devereaux and the powerful Katie Grieve proved to much around the contest for the Lions, who were too often out-muscled around the contests.

Brittany Gliddon did her best for the Lions in the ruck and took a number of strong marks around the ground, but had little options to kick too.

Tigers forward Bethany Bond booted three goals to be the game’s only multiple goalkicker.

The Tigers led by 22 points at the final break and put on one of their best performances of the season in the final term, booting six goals to one to ice the game.

South Bunbury will now face the Harvey Bulls for a place in this year’s grand final.

South Bunbury 1.4 1.8 3.10 9.14 68

Harv-Bruns-Lesch 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 12

Goals: South Bunbury – B. Bond 3, K. McMillan, M. Obal, P. Devereaux, K. Grieve, C. Elward, C. Hilder. Harv-Bruns-Lesch – S. Joyce, L. Triplett.

Best: South Bunbury – A. Cheema, P. Devereaux, C. Gray, K. Grieve, M. Obal, C. Hilder. Harv-Bruns-Lesch – C. Lange, B. Gliddon, L. Triplett, L. Bignell, L. Patane.

RESERVES

Carey Park kept their season alive with a 34-point win over the Collie Eagles in the reserves elimination final.

The Eagles fought hard in the first half, but could not stop the Panthers who showed their strength and speed to win 13.7 (85) to 7.9 (51).

Carey Park booted eight goals to just three after the main break, with Trent Murdoch (four goals) leading the way for the visitors.

Dylan Garlett showed his fine skills with a best-on-ground performance, while Tim Yarran went on a number of scintillating runs to break the line and put the Eagles’ defence under pressure.

Eagle Teale DeAngelis did his harms of a recall to the league side no damage with a fantastic two-goal performance for his side, while young forward Bailey Moloney could also come into calculations after booting a pair of majors.

The Panthers will meet Bunbury in the first semi-final next weekend.

Carey Park 3.1, 5.2, 9.6, 13.7, 85

Collie Eagles 1.1, 4.3, 5.6, 7.9, 51

Goals: Carey Park – T. Murdoch 4, M. Dann, T. Yarran 2, L. Dann, J. Dartnell, W. Hagan, F. Quartermaine, J. Smith. Collie Eagles – T. De Angelis, B. Moloney 2, L. Abbott, K. East, T. Tanner.

Best: Carey Park – D. Garlett, T. Yarran, T. Murdoch, M. Taylor, J. Grantham, M. Ugle. Collie Eagles – T. DeAngelis, J. Roney, K. East, T. Tanner, P. Rabjones, L. Pike.

COLTS

Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault are on track to defend their premiership after a close seven-point win over Busselton in the colts qualifying final.

Both teams put plenty of pressure on around the ground, but the Lions eventually broke through in the last term, booting four goals to none to win 8.4 (52) to 6.9 (45).

Both sides were fighting hard in the first half and amazingly, neither side kicked a goal in a tight second term.

The Magpies gained the lead by three-quarter time thanks to a four-goal to two quarter, with Isaac Haslam booting three majors.

But the Lions showed their resilience and fitness, overpowering the MAgpies in the final term to claim victory and set up a second semi-final showdown with minor premiers Bunbury.

Harv-Bruns-Lesch 2.1, 2.4, 4.4, 8.4, 52

Busselton 2.2, 2.3, 6.6, 6.9, 45

Goals: Harv-Bruns-Lesch – T. Kelly, T. Williams, D. Gianfrancesco 2, C. Wilson, K. Chell. Busselton – I. Haslam 3, D. Gault, M. Tobin, T. Spowart.

Best: Harv-Bruns-Lesch – J. Currell, T. Heenan, T. Cotton, Z. Williams, B. Roberts, L. Perks. Busselton – M. Tobin, T. Hoffman, J. Hayden, J. Milner, S. Bourne, Z. Conroy.