Hawks hold Tigers surge

Augusta Margaret River Hawks kicked off the season with a strong win, holding off a gallant South Bunbury by 21 points at Gloucester Park on Saturday.

The Hawks started well kicking the first three goals of the match and never surrendered the lead to win 7.15 (57) to 5.6 (36).

Augusta Margaret River were more precise with the football with dominant centre-half-forward Mitch Payne taking several important marks.

But Payne was wayward in front of goals kicking three behinds in a row to start the third quarter and despite dominating possession the Hawks were only three goals up at three-quarter-time.

The young Tigers never gave up running, taking the momentum after kicking the first goal of the last quarter to reduce the margin to 13 points.

A more experienced Margaret River midfield led by Matthew Jukes and Max Patterson then turned the pressure up tackling hard and winning important clearances to steady the ship.

The game was put out of the Tigers’ reach when Hawks full-forward Ricky Cary received a free kick for a deliberate rushed behind, converting the set shot from point blank range.

Margaret River coach Matt Jamieson said he was pleased with his sides pressure but lamented their inaccuracy in front of goals.

“We had five goals nine from 28 inside 50s to 10 in the first half but just couldn’t put them away,” he said.

“They hung around to their credit, but in the end, we controlled the ball a little better in the last five or six minutes.”

South Bunbury coach David Obal said lapses in concentration hurt the Tigers early.

“We had to address our defensive pressure at half time, and I thought the boys worked really hard to improve that in the second half.”

Augusta Margaret River Hawks 7.15 (57), South Bunbury 5.6 (36)

Goals Augusta Margaret River — Cary 2, Jukes, Wrightson, Payne, Taylor, Hall.

South Bunbury — Clement 2, Delbridge, Rota, Horsman.

Best: Augusta Margaret River — Jukes, Payne, Patterson, B Gerrans. South Bunbury — Giacci, Thompson, Rota, Clement.

Votes: 5 Jukes, 4 Payne, 3 B Gerrans, 2 Rota, 1 Patterson.