Match Report: S Bunbury v Busselton

SOUTH Bunbury caused one of the upsets of the South West Football League season on Saturday night, defeating Busselton by three points in heavy rain at Sir Stewart Bovell Park.

The Tigers held off the depleted Magpies in the last half and survived a late scare by inaccurate forward Brent Snook to win 4.7 (31) to 3.10 (28).

Torrential rain hampered much of the match, with both sides unable to deliver clean possession in the forward line.

Tigers captain Dan McGinlay and small midfielder James Price were absent to injury, along with back-up ruckman Adam Dehring.

The game was won during the second term, when South Bunbury gained control and kicked three unanswered majors with the wind.

Stand-in coach Mal Dreja then made the move of the match - sending new forward Matt Wilkinson to defence in the third term, with the long-haired tall playing the spare man role to perfection as the Magpies could manage only one goal with the strong breeze.

The Tigers midfield - led by a rejuvenated Damon Bull, newcomer Jaxon Bell and inspirational captain Matt Giacci - adjusted better to the wet conditions, kicking for touch often and ferociously attacking the ball to win possession.

The match culminated in a frenetic final quarter, with South Bunbury locking the ball in the forward line for much of the 20 minutes.

But it was the penultimate point to Busselton forward Snook that let the game slip from the black-and-whites.

With just two minutes remaining, Snook had a set shot 20 metres out but was unable to convert, kicking his third behind for the night.

Busselton's midfield was led by recruit Chris Kane and well-supported by Jordan Eastwell, Jackson Arbon and Adam Booth.

But without captain McGinlay, the Magpies lacked a line-breaker and it ended being crucial, with the Magpies often unable to free the ball from congestion.

South Bunbury, however, held strong, with Bull showing no signs of tiring in the horrendous conditions as the Tigers won the low-scoring affair despite not kicking a goal in the last half.

Booth provided one of the few highlights of the game, kicking a 50 metre goal through the big sticks in the third.

Busselton now has seven days to prepare for Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault, who travel down south on Saturday. Meanwhile, South Bunbury will seek to even the ledger at three wins, three losses when hosting the Collie Eagles.