A determined fight back in the second half fell just short as the South West Football League fell to the Peel Cavaliers in round one of the 2017 Landmark Country Football Championships in Mandurah on Saturday.
It was a tale of two halves as Peel stormed to an early lead, keeping the South West goalless in the first half.
But they were forced to defend that lead when the green and gold jerseys came charging back into the game, cutting the margin in the dying stages as Peel held on for a 10.13.73 to 10.4.64 win.
The Cavaliers set the tone early with hard, physical football their preferred style of play. They romped the South West at every contest and surged forward a number of times early.
Halls Head product Michael Beeton was electrifying in the first term, flying into contests and creating opportunities for teammates.
His ball-winning ability allowed Peel to enter their forward half with regularity, where South Mandurah spearhead Brad Holmes was dominant, booting the first two goals of the game to get the ball rolling.
Peel went into the first break with a 32-point lead and refused to ease up in the second term, piling on the pain for the South West.
Peel locked the ball in their forward half for the entire quarter and took a 59-point lead into the half time break with the South West yet to register a goal.
But the coin flipped in the second half, with the South West booting the first four goals coming out of the break to charge back into the match.
Brett Peake kick-started the surge, and was a key instigator in getting his side back from the brink.
The Cavaliers dug in and managed to chew almost 10 minutes off the clock without giving up a goal late in the period.
That would prove to be crucial to the result, as the South West threw everything they had at the reigning champions in the final term.
They booted five goals to Peel’s none, and were able to cut the margin to seven points late in the term.
Jon Meadmore was a force for the South West while Jace Cormack provided plenty of spark as the side fell perilously short.
The championships will now resume in mid-July, with the South West to battle against Avon and Great Northern in a bid to return to the final.
PFNL 10.13.73 defeat SWFL 10.4.64
Goals: PFNL – B. Holmes 3, K. Westwood, J. Carter, T. Wood, A. Haydon, A. Bowers, S. Pauls, M. Buxton.
SWFL – B. Peake 3, P. Farrant 2, J. Fontana, M. Battaglia, K. Hug, Ja. Cormack, D. Heasman.
Best: PFNL – A. Bowers, C. Smith, J. Carter, T. Wood, B. Wright, B. Holmes.
SWFL – J. Meadmore, J. Battaglia, B. Peake, Ja. Cormack, W. Oelsnik, K. Bumann.