Hawks take down Harvey in icy match-up

Augusta Margaret River defeated Harvey Bulls at a bitterly cold Gloucester Park on Sunday afternoon, in round eight of the SWFL season.

Only the most hardened of locals were in shorts during the frosty afternoon match, where the Hawks defeated the Bulls by 49 points.

Aaron Faulkner kicked the opening goal of the match for the Bulls, with a clever snap, but that was equaled by a good running goal to Jed Spence. A long range goal from Quinn Donaldson put the Hawks in front at the eleven minute mark, and the lead would grow from that point.

Kaspa Donovan allowed for the breeze beautifully from deep in the pocket to slot through the Hawks third goal of the opening quarter, with Max Spyvee converting a set shot to end the Hawks quarter twenty two points in front.

Jacob Buckland ran into an open goal at the seven minute mark of the second quarter, while Ben Watson took a pack mark at the top of the goal square and duly converted five minutes later. Aside from that, the ball traversed Gloucester Park, with both defensive lines controlling play.

Faulkner kicked the Bulls second goal early in the third term after which time the Hawks dominated the remainder of the quarter and extended the margin to 46 points.

For the third time in the match, Liam Lockley would kick the opening goal of the term for the Bulls, but further goals to Byron George and Ben Watson would extend the margin beyond fifty points, with a late goal to Jordan Rakowski reduced the margin to 49 points when the siren sounded.

Busselton continued their great form, defeating Carey Park at Sir Stewart Bovell Park on Saturday afternoon.

The home side got off to a perfect start with goals to two of their key forwards, with Ryan Ekert and Mitchell Cameron converting in the first eight minutes of the match.

The Panthers stuck back with the next two goals, firstly with Brian Hughes taking a contested mark in the goal square before Matt Martin received a free kick and duly converted.

A late goal to Liam Creighton saw the home side lead by six points at quarter time, with all three of the Busselton goals coming from the goal square.

Carey Park started the second quarter brilliantly, kicking three goals in seven minutes, two of those to Rory O’Brien and the other to Martin, which gave the Pathers a twelve point lead. Busselton would then kick the next three goals, two of them to Creighton, as the Magpies took back the lead by six points at half time.

Two 50 metre penalties at the start of the third quarter gifted goals to Cameron and Creighton as Busselton opened up the biggest lead of the match.

Rory O’Brien would snap his third to reduce the margin to thirteen points but Creighton would kick his fifth to extend the margin again.

The margin would be four goals at the final change and when Busselton kicked the first goal of the final term, it would be a bridge too far for Carey Park as the home side went on to win by 37 points.

In other games, South Bunbury defeated the Collie Eagles by 81 points, Bunbury are back on top of the ladder after defeating Dunsborough by 63 points, and Harvey Brunswick Leschenault were too good for Eaton, winning by 74 points at Glen Huon Reserve.