BLISTERING third quarters are becoming automatic for the Busselton Magpies and it showed once again with a huge third term enough to lift them over an admirable South Bunbury outfit.
The Tigers gave a four-quarter effort and can take a number of positives from the match, but the experience and quick movement of the Magpies won out as they claimed a 13.12.90 to 10.6.66 victory.
Multiple entries into their forward 50m arch saw South Bunbury with the first two goals of the match through brothers Matt and Dale Wilkinson.
The pressure from South Bunbury was immense early in the match, forcing a number of turnovers and skill errors from the Magpies.
Chris Andrew was moving well while Braden Piggott was showing good signs in his 50th league game.
But a late momentum shift in the opening quarter due to some solid play from Adam Dehring and Ethan Bowman saw Busselton hit back with a goal.
Wasted opportunities in their forward line put the Magpies under pressure in the second term with a number of missed kicks allowing South Bunbury to intercept the ball and run it to their forward line.
Damon Bull was the beneficiary of a South Bunbury transition as he kicked the first goal of the second term for the Tigers.
Busselton also lost some potency in front of goal when youngster Luke Hutchins went down to injury early in the match.
But that paved the way for Bailey Sanford to own the forward 50m.
Sanford booted Busselton’s first goal of the second quarter and followed up with some impressive work.
But it was South Bunbury that took the lead into the half time break with Jaxon Bell and Matt Giacci providing good movement around the ground.
The third term changed the outlook of the match with Busselton showing their ability to break a game open.
Brent Snook and Brent Hall recorded the first goals of the term.
Dan McGinlay was also controlling play through the middle while Aidan Fraser worked hard around the forward flank.
Busselton booted five goals to two in the third quarter to take an 11-point lead into the final period.
A quick start to South Bunbury could have forced the upset, but Busselton midfielder Chris Kane set the tone as he slotted an early goal to give his team a comfortable buffer.
Hall followed with another to put the game beyond the Tigers’ reach, but South Bunbury refused to give in.
Dale Wilkinson booted an amazing goal with a quick snap around his body which was followed by another Tigers major.
But it was not enough to get the job done as the Magpies tallied a 24-point win.
Pictures by Ashley Pearce.
