EAGLEHAWK has climbed back into the top five after a clinical 39-point win over Gisborne in the BFNL’s annual Wirama Perpetual Shield match that was the feature of indigenous round.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Hawks handled the muddy conditions better at Canterbury Park to win 12.7 (79) to 6.4 (40) on Sunday.
“They were the sort of conditions today where games can go either way, so we were pleased with the performance,” Eaglehawk coach Josh Bowe said.
As was the case the previous week when they were beaten by Golden Square, the Bulldogs were unable to apply early scoreboard pressure as the Hawks led by 31 points at half-time, 7.3 to 2.2.
“The stats we looked at after the game were fairly even, but the big difference was Eaglehawk was much more cleaner than we were,” Gisborne coach Brad Spear said.
“They were able to hit their targets, but when we had the chance to go forward it was a real scrap for us.”
Eaglehawk’s Ben McPhee was both the standout player on the field and the game’s leading goalkicker with four, including three in the first quarter.
The Hawks were also well served by fellow on-ballers Brodie Collins, Riley McIvor and Jesse Collins.
Captain Jarrad Lynch battled manfully in the midfield to be Gisborne’s best.
Also playing well for Gisborne was Shannon Greetham, who had the task of running with Bowe, and Clinton Young in his return from a hamstring injury.
The Bulldogs lost Jack Baker to concussion in the first quarter, while the Hawks’ Koby Hommelhoff (knee) was injured in the first half.
