Football: Resolute Tigers roar past Eagles

An impressive South Bunbury consolidated its place in the top three with a hard-fought 22-point victory over the Collie Eagles at Hands Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers led by 12 points at half-time but their midfield got on top in the third term to push the margin out to more than five goals at the final change.

Blair Malatesta’s goal in the opening seconds of the last term could have sparked the Eagles, but the home team closed out the game with poise and class to cap a tremendous four-quarter performance.

Souths’ forward line was spacious and dangerous, with Guy Piggott, Dylan Harper and Leigh Kohlmann all kicking three goals in the 14.8 (92) to 10.10 (70) victory.

The only sour points for the Tigers were injuries to ruckman Wes Lammie (shin) and Ben Jerez (collarbone).

After being cleared from Swan Districts last month, Lammie limped off early in the first quarter and, despite trying to return to the field briefly, spent the rest of the game on the bench.

Tiger Chris Andrew took up the fight against Collie’s Paul Lindsay and held his own.

He was a standout in the third term when Souths’ third-string big man Craig Ellen was forced to the bench with an ankle injury.

South Bunbury pounced after half-time as onballers Damon Bull, Tyson Lee and Shaun Crane began to dominate the clearances.

Everything was going the Tigers’ way and Fraser Miller booted the goal of the day, slapped on the outside of his boot from 40m out hard against the boundary line.

Guy Piggott did his best to beat it.

The clever full-forward curled a banana snap off his non-preferred left boot as the Tigers put themselvesin the box seat at the final change, leading by 31 points.

The Eagles fought out the contest well and, led by Adam Bignall and Matt Blackford, showed they are likely to remain a top three team.

After the home team had opened a 25-point lead midway through the second term, three majors to Bignall ensured the difference was a more manageable 12 points at the long break.

After being dropped last week, Will Cleggett found plenty of the footy in the final term, while Dave Cowan and Tallan Michael never stopped trying for Collie.

Eagle Alex Tweedie took several important contested marks and kicked two goals.

Down back South Bunbury’s Adam Harper did a good job on corralling Eagles’ key forward Jon D’Sylva.

Souths’ forward entries were a feature of the contest, with the likes of Crane, Seroka, Matt Giacci and Lee all hitting targets with penetrating balls inside 50.

Scoreboard

South Bunbury 5.2 9.4 13.7 14.8 92 def Collie Eagles 4.2 7.4 8.6 10.10 70

Goals:

SOUTH BUNBURY – G. Piggott, L. Kohlmann, D. Harper 3, T. Lee 2, B. Seroka, B. Piggott, F. Millar.

COLLIE EAGLES – R. Cowan 3, M. Michael, A. Tweedie 2, B. Malatesta, D. Cowan, J. D’Sylva.

Best:

SOUTH BUNBURY – T. Lee, S. Crane, C. Andrew, L. Kohlmann, D. Bull, M. Giacci, D. Bull.

COLLIE EAGLES – A. Bignall, D. Cowan, T. Michael, A. Tweedie, M. Blackford, P. Lindsay.