BULLDOGS RESERVES CONTINUE TO IMPRESS IN WAFLW

SOUTH Fremantle wasn’t quite able to record its first ever WAFLW victory against Subiaco on Saturday night but the Bulldogs’ Reserves continued to impress with a win over West Perth.

South Fremantle’s Round 6 in the WAFLW competition got underway on Saturday night at Leederville Oval with a league clash against Subiaco.

It didn’t turn out to be the result the Bulldogs were after with them held scoreless for three quarters with the Lions running out 11.12 (78) to 1.0 (6) winners.

It was better news on Sunday in the WAFLW Reserves contest for Round 6 with South Fremantle beating West Perth 3.5 (23) to 2.3 (15).

But earlier on Sunday morning it was West Perth prevailing over South Fremantle in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup battle 5.8 (38) to 2.0 (12).

Subiaco and South Fremantle found themselves desperate for a win when they did battle on Saturday evening at Leederville Oval.

The two teams had locked horns back in the opening round of the season at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in what turned out to be a thriller.

Subiaco built up a handy lead over the opening three quarters, but South Fremantle produced the best fourth quarter in its history in the WAFLW competition to give themselves a genuine chance.

The Lions were able to just hold on for the three-point win, but it’s been tough going over the last month for both teams since.

Subiaco has lost its four games in the WAFLW since that Round 1 win against Peel Thunder, East Fremantle, Claremont and Swan Districts meaning the Lions were desperate to bounce back with a second win of the season on Saturday night.

After finishing as minor premiers in each of the past two WAFLW seasons and ultimately reaching a preliminary final and Grand Final, this was crucial for Subiaco to stay in the finals race for 2021.

But it did also loom as a genuine chance for South Fremantle to notch its first ever win in the WAFLW competition on the back of losing to Swan Districts, Claremont, Peel Thunder and East Fremantle since that opening round defeat to Subiaco.

The game got underway on Saturday evening at Leederville Oval with Subiaco dominating the opening quarter with seven scoring shots to zero. That turned into three goals and the Lions were 22 points up at quarter-time.

The Lions maintained their control in the second quarter again holding the Bulldogs scoreless while adding another two goals themselves before opening up a 36-point half-time advantage.

Subiaco asserted its control even further in the third term. Not only did the Lions continue to hold the Bulldogs scoreless, but they also kicked another four goals themselves to lead by 63 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle did get on the board in the final quarter with a goal but Subiaco kicked two more goals to end up winning 11.12 (78) to 1.0 (6).

South Fremantle’s lone goal in the last quarter came courtesy of Hunter Cronin.

Best players on the evening for the Bulldogs included Kiara Templeman, Ebony Clarkson, Casey Byrne, Tahlia Holtze and Liusaidh Gilchrist.

But then on Sunday morning, South Fremantle was back at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to host West Perth in the Rogers Cup battle.

The Bulldogs started impressively as well kicking the only two goals of the opening quarter but that would be as good as the game got for the home team.

West Perth kicked the only goal of the second quarter and then piled on four in the last to end up winning 5.8 (38) to 2.0 (12).

South Fremantle’s goals came courtesy of Indi Strom and Mikayla Kafi.

The best players for the Bulldogs included Holly Denholm, Tayla Hughes, Chloe Boothman, Liana Tuhakaraina and Shanay Del Borrello.

Then in the Reserves game, South Fremantle also took on West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the Bulldogs again starting well with the only goal of the opening quarter.

It was then a goal apiece in the second term before the Bulldogs kicked the only goal of the third quarter to lead by 13 points at three quarter-time.

Despite a scoreless final quarter South Fremantle still secured the 3.5 (23) to 2.3 (15) win over West Perth.

Breanne Spencer, Jaymi Karapetkov and Hannah Barkell were the goal scorers for the Bulldogs with Mikayla Kowald, Tahlia McRoberts, Tahlia Dawson-Gibbs, Melissa Silcock and Sarah Wright among the better players.

After a break in action, Round 7 of the WAFLW competition will see South Fremantle take on Claremont next Saturday in league action at Revo Fitness Stadium from 9.30am.

The Reserves will take on Swan Districts on Sunday April 11 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval from 11am after the Rogers Cup battle at 9.15am.

OPTUS WAFL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 6

SOUTH FREMANTLE        0.0    0.0    0.0    1.0    (6)
SUBIACO            3.4    5.6    9.9    11.12    (78)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Cronin.
Best: Templeman, Clarkson, Byrne, Holtze, Gilchrist.
SUBIACO – Goals: Buckley, Tester 3; Hunt, Pocsidio 2; Dowrick.
Best: Buckley, Dowrick, Tester, Blackmore, Ritchie.