Magpies triumphant over HBL

It was a gutsy win for a resilient Busselton outfit that fought doggedly for four quarters to defeat Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault 16.15 (111) to 14.2 (88) at Sir Stewart Bovell Park on Saturday night.

Busselton almost came undone in the first term due to mystifying match-ups that saw defender Lance Lucas stationed in the forward line, ruck man Adam Dehring down back and youngster Noah Moore opposing the Lions’ ace full forward Ashley Thornton.

Despite that, the Lions came to play and caught the Magpies off guard with intense tackling pressure that curbed Busselton’s distinct zip around the ground.

Lion forward Tyler Gleadell opened the scoreboard with consecutive goals, firstly intercepting an errant kick-in straight in front, then booting another immediately after receiving service from Ryan McIntyre.

Magpie Bradbury got his first of three for the night after teammate Brent Snook centred the football to Josh Hewett who also followed up with the Magpies second, while Snook booted their third for the term.

However, Lion Thornton took control of the quarter by kicking three. The first from a high ball delivered by Travis Obal, the second after Jarrad Watson sold some foot candy and then a third from a relayed free kick.

After the first change Busselton stabilised itself by sending Lucas back and injecting Dehring into its midfield.

Magpies’ skipper Daniel McGinlay seized a Lions’ turnover and linked up with winger Jackson Arbon and big man Dehring who supplied Sean Trombetta his first major with a deft handball.

Shortly after Dehring featured again combining with Bradbury who spotted Tim Ioannou within range before Busselton unleashed its finest passage of play when ruckman Brent Hall tapped to Kyle Hams who linked up with Arbon and Aidan Fraser to get Snook his second.

Nevertheless the Lions did not retreat as they booted the next four in a row via Brad Strano, Gleadell’s sizzling banana, Zachary Piper and David Newman who received a free for being taken high.

Busselton levelled the scoring for the term when Jon Meadmore combined with Hewett in assisting Snook with his third.

After the main break the Magpie boys lifted, booting four goals for the quarter with Bradbury snaring two, Trombetta securing his second and Dehring chiming in for one while Gleadell set up Thornton who marked and goaled the Lions’ only major for the term .

Late in the quarter a melee exploded that saw the Lions surrounding and targeting Busselton’s giant Hall.

Lion Jack Quinn and Hall were both sidelined with yellow cards for wrestling while Magpie Jacob Grylls was stretchered off in the aftermath.

With their noses in front at the final change the Magpies maintained their composure to outdo the relentless Lions in a shootout of five goals to four.

Magpies’ Adam Booth and Fraser booted doubles for the term plus Snook bagged his fourth while Lions’ defender Keegan Fortescue snuck forward to goal before Thornton kicked another three to cap off an awesome individual performance.

Scoreboard

Busselton 3.3 7.5 11.9 16.15 111 def HBL 5.1 9.1 10.2 14.2 88

Goals:

BUSSELTON — B. Snook 4, N. Bradbury 3, S. Trombetta, A. Booth, A. Fraser 2, J. Hewett, T. Iaonnou, A. Dehring.

HARVEY-BRUNSWICK-LESCHENAULT — A. Thornton 7, T. Gleadell 3, B. Strano, Z. Piper, D. Newman, K. Fortescue.

Best:

BUSSELTON — J. Arbon, K. Hams, T. Iaonnou, D. McGinlay, A.Dehring, B. Snook.

HARVEY-BRUNSWICK-LESCHENAULT — A. Thornton, T. Obal, J. Sell, Joshua Quinn, K. Aitken, J. Watson.

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