SWFL 2022: High-scoring first half sees Busselton Magpies home to thrilling eight-point win over Donnybrook

A high-scoring first half was the catalyst at the weekend for the Busselton Magpies’ thrilling eight-point win over Donnybrook. The two sides were evenly matched making for a thrilling contest, but straight kicking from Busselton and 10 first-half goals were enough to see them hold on to win 13.4 (82) to 11.8 (74). Donnybrook took a two-point lead into quarter-time, but the Magpies came out strong in the second term in what would be the deciding quarter of the match. The home team kicked 6.1 to 3.1 in the second quarter, including two goals in the dying minutes before half-time, to lead 10.2 (62) to 7.4 (46) at the main break. But the Dons came out strong after half-time, with Jake Anderson and Ben Howlett providing a spark through the middle of the ground — and when Jeff Smith and Tristan McDonald goaled, the margin was back to three points. Magpies big man Jed Kemp began to become a problem for the visitors, with he and Liam Creighton both hitting the scoreboard to keep the margin in Busselton’s favour by 15 points at three-quarter-time. The Dons responded again to start the fourth, with Zac Trigwell kicking two big goals to get his side back within a kick. With the game in the balance, Mitchell Tenardi, Bailey Sanford and the rest of the Magpies hard-nosed midfield made a series of bone-crunching tackles to stop the visitors from launching a comeback. Donnybrook had the last two scoring shots of the game, but both sailed through for a behind as the Magpies took a eight-point win to remain in touch with the top five.