Last-gasp goal nets HBL a draw

An acute angled banana kick by Jamal Mulholland found its mark for Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault as the final siren sounded on a lively 6.8 (44) to 5.14 (44) draw between the Collie Eagles and the Lions at Brunswick Oval on Saturday night.

The last-gasp goal helped the man on loan from WAFL club Peel atone for a horrible miss early in the third quarter during which the young Lions all but kicked themselves out of the game with a string of behinds.

Heavy going on a muddy Brunswick Oval and a wet ball played havoc with the players’ handling but the run from both teams was on in an entertaining clash.

The Lions will rue the fact that they posted eight successive behinds in the third term, some of which should have been goaled.

The smaller, more mobile HBL recorded three goals in the first quarter with snaps from Matt Bicknell and Ty Armitage and a set shot from John Klumpp, returing to the fray after knee surgery, against a Corey Griggs consolation, giving hope of an upset.

However with coach Brett Earl tightening his defences to keep the Lions to just two points in the second quarter while his own side slotted three majors through Adam Bignell, Chris Cross and Tony Mirabella, the Eagles swooped into a slender five point lead at half-time.

The home team held sway throughout the premiership quarter but it did not transfer to the scoreboard for the Lions who watched eight singles sail wide of the big sticks.

Mulholland spoiled a sitter in the third minute after marking a Brad Strano cross, Klumpp missed a couple and Bicknell, Joyce and a long Ash Thornton pot shot were all off target but it was enough to wrest the lead back for the Lions.

However the two point advantage from that string of behinds was blotted out by Collie youngster Sam Moyses who sprinted past a posse of Lions to snap truly and regain the lead for the visitors with one shot.

It was an arm wrestle all the way to the end with Collie looking like winners at the final siren but Mulholland had marked seconds before and with his fine kick levelled the scores.

The result is a massive blow to the Eagles finals chances with Collie now six points beind Carey Park on the ladder in sixth position.

The Lions will also view the game as a missed opportunity after dominating proceedings for large stretches of the contest.

The draw leaves HBL in eighth on the ladder.

Scoreboard

Collie Eagles 1.1 4.3 6.5 6.8 44 drew Harv-Bruns-Lesch 3.2 3.4 4.12 5.14 44

Goals:

EAGLES – C. Cross, A. Bignell 2, C. Griggs, T. Mirabella.

LIONS – T. Armitage, J. Klumpp, M. Bicknell, B. Harris, J. Mulholland.

Best:

EAGLES – M. Michael, C. Griggs, B. Whelan, T. Pass, A. Bignell, T. Michael.

LIONS – B. Strano, K. Aitken, T. Armitage, J. Sell, T. Obal, Z. Piper.

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