Football: Hawks back on track after derby win

Augusta-Margaret River got its season back on track and left reigning premiers Busselton in danger of missing the finals with a tough 18-point victory in wet and boggy conditions at Gloucester Park on Saturday night.

The Magpies looked the better team for two and a half quarters, but the Hawks gradually took control in front of a vocal home crowd to win 8.10 (58) to 6.4 (40) and regain the Busselton Toyota Cup.

Burly forward Justin Simmonds kept AMR in the contest by kicking his team’s first four goals through to the opening minutes of the third term before another good player in Mitch Gerrans took over.

After Busselton re-established its 12-point half-time lead, Gerrans enjoyed a purple patch, kicking three goals to put his team nine points up turning for home.

Then Augusta-Margaret River took control, with the Magpie defence being forced to work overtime as young ruckman Asher Samelko dominated against Adam Dehring and Hayward Medallist Jeremy Humm and Peel Thunder recruit Pat Travers showed their class at the base of the packs.

Jordan Eastwell also relished the conditions, with deep mud in places after weeks of rain, while Mason Hislop and Aiden Fraser were others to shine through the gloom as Busselton was held to just 1.1 in the second half.

Magpies’ defender Brent Snook comfortably outpointed Hawks’ coach Tim Noakes, reading the Hawks’ attempts to deliver to their gun spearhead at every opportunity with countless spoils and marks.

Noakes managed just a solitary behind – a first quarter shot which hit the post – for most of the night.

But when he won a free kick on the members’ wing and a 50m penalty, kicking truly from 30m for the only goal of the last quarter, the match was won.

Scoreboard

AMR 2.2 3.3 7.6 8.10 58 def Busselton 2.1 5.3 6.3 6.4 40

Goals:

AMR — J. Simmonds 4, M. Gerrans 3, T. Noakes.

BUSSELTON — D. McGinlay 2, S. Trombetta, J. Anderson, A. Fraser, R. Kinnear.

Best:

AMR — A. Samelko, J. Simmonds, J. Humm, M. Gerrans, M. Semini, P. Travers.

BUSSELTON — D. McGinlay, B. Snook, J. Eastwell, M. Hislop, A. Fraser, J. Price.