SWFL: Bunbury continue unbeaten start to women’s premiership defence with 18-point win over Busselton

Bunbury kept an unbeaten start to their South West Football League women’s premiership defence at Payne Park on Sunday, beating Busselton by 18 points. No love was lost between the sides in a fiery rematch of last season’s decider, but the Bulldogs again proved too good for the Magpies to run out 6.2 (38) to 3.2 (20) winners. The victory extended Bunbury’s near year-long winning streak out to 15 games, having not been on the end of a defeat since a loss to Busselton in round 13 last year. Kloe Bassett and Emily Allen continued a stand-out season through the middle of the ground for the Bulldogs as Tara Clifford (three goals) and Chloe Sheahen (two) did the damage in attack. After coaching the State Country side in their thrilling one-point victory over a Perth Football League representative outfit on Friday night, Rennie Meadmore was among Busselton’s best performers, alongside fellow club stalwart Maddy Obal (two goals). As they have for much of their winning run, the Bulldogs made the faster start, with Clifford showing clever forward craft to crumb off a pack and snap home their opener inside the first five minutes. After the hosts added another goal, the Magpies were able to ensure they hit back through Taleishia Cann, who found space out the back to roll home their opener in the term’s closing moments with what had been one of their only inside-50 entries. Having kicked against the wind in the first term, the Bulldogs were able to add another two majors with it in their backs in the second through Tassone and Sheahan, who were both able to win one-on-one contests to roll home from the goal square. Busselton faced down a deficit of more than three goals at the main break but were able find the major opening within the first minute of the second half through a spectacular soccer off the ground from Obal. The goal was the first of her two in the third term, with the second coming from a converted set shot after Meadmore pinned Bunbury star Bassett holding the ball and found her on the lead with a precise kick. Having maintained their buffer by adding two of their own goals in the quarter, the Bulldogs played the final stanza largely inside their own attacking 50 but could not add an elusive seventh goal as the visitors defended grimly.

SWFL: Bunbury continue unbeaten start to women’s premiership defence with 18-point win over Busselton

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