HBL women’s side set to play finals footy

Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault will play in the SWFL women’s finals series, despite a 3.2 (20) to 2.6 (18) loss against bottom-placed Carey Park on Sunday.

With HBL leading Busselton on percentage heading into the final round of the home and away season, the Lions hung onto fourth spot after the Magpies were crushed 8.7 (55) to 2.0 (12) by the Harvey Bulls at Sir Stewart Bovell Park.

Although entering the game with one victory, the Panthers looked anything but a side destined for the wooden spoon against the Lions.

Led by Jeanette Reimers’ tough tackling and Samantha Barnard’s excellent pressure, the home side managed to secure plenty of possession during the first quarter.

The visitors managed to kick a goal against the run of play to temporarily gain some momentum, before some excellent team play from Dannielle Mauger resulted in a goal which was well received by the Panthers faithful.

While the Panthers were putting the Lions under pressure in Bunbury, the Magpies were copping a hiding from the Bulls in Busselton, who raced out to a 22-point lead at quarter time.

Courtney Bayliss was terrorising the home side, while Fleur Parker’s desire to deliver repeat efforts at the contest again proved a quality act for her teammates to follow.

In the second half at Kelly Park, the home side managed to hold their nerve against the finals-bound Lions, with Reimers, Kandice Hart and Kirryn Scallan all playing starring roles in the highly-anticipated victory.

Busselton’s defeat against the Bulls means that despite sitting in the top four for the majority of the season, they will not feature in September.

The Lions travel to Gloucester Park on Saturday for their first semi-final against Bunbury, with the loser eliminated, while South Bunbury take on the Bulls in the second semi-final at Glen Huon Reserve on Sunday.

Despite missing a host of players, the Tigers warmed up for the Bulls clash with a convincing 10.11 (71) to 2.2 (14) victory over the Eaton Boomers away from home.