Magpies fall in three point heartbreaker

Bunbury have defeated Busselton in another thriller at Sir Stewart Bovell Park on Saturday night, in round four of the premiership season.

The Magpies got off to a great start, with Ky Meers converting from right in front, after receiving a free kick for a high tackle.

Baiden Parsons kicked the opening goal for Bunbury, as both teams kept the pressure on, with both backlines put under enormous pressure. Meers would receive another free kick for a high tackle, kicking his second from deep in the pocket.

Mitchell Cameron kicked his first goal from the goal square after another free kick, which saw the Magpies leading by twelve points at quarter time. The margin was reduced in the opening minute of the second quarter, with Mackenna Taylor snapping a good goal on the run.

Bunbury would have all the play as they peppered the goals at the highway end, yielding four behinds.

Eventually Dylan Heasman would take a mark in the goal square, putting the Bulldogs in front. The pressure would remain relentless, with every contest immediately having the ball carrier under pressure.

A long kick to a one one one contest gave the Bulldogs their fourth goal as the ball bounced over the Busselton defender, straight into the arms of Joel Houghton. Fraser Gilchrist kicked Bunbury’s fifth after the half time siren, giving the visitors a 14 point lead.

Busselton kicked three behinds in the second, and would kick a further three behinds at the start of the third term.

Denholm King, who goaled from long range, gave the Bulldogs a 17 point lead and would set up Bunbury’s next goal with an exquisite pass to Parsons, as the margin extended to 23. Bunbury were dominating the match, but Jackson Arbon kicked a goal from a boundary throw-in which started a run of goals to the home side.

Jozef Parkinson dodged and weaved his way past defenders to reduce the margin back to 9 points, and when Meers received a free kick just before three quarter time, the margin was back to 3 points.

In a pulsating final term, Cameron put the Magpies back in front for the first time since the sixteen minute mark of the second quarter. His goal was immediately negated by Mason Hawkes, as the Bulldogs took back the lead.

King would extend the lead after a scramble in front of goals, before the Magpies fought back yet again. Cameron took a mark in the goal square to reduce the margin to four points, and when Ryan Ekert snapped a goal, the Magpies were back in front.

Taylor put Bunbury back in front, before Busselton went back into attack yet again. In a tense final five mintues, neither team could score, with Bunbury eventually getting the ball forward, only for the Magpies to make a final advance down the outer side as the siren sounded.

Bunbury will play Harvey Bulls in Harvey next Saturday, while Busselton will also be on the road, as they take on Eaton on Sunday.

Bunbury 10.10.70 def. Busselton 9.13.67