MARK: Shannon Cox sends a Bunbury player sprawling as he marks in the league football clash last Sunday.
SHANNON Cox set the stage for the Collie Eagles 31 point win over Bunbury in the league football clash at Payne Park, Bunbury, last Sunday.
The former Collingwood AFL player used a Bunbury opponent to take a classic mark and then slotted the shot for full points to set the Eagles on their way to victory.
This early act of defiance galvanized his team mates and they gradually wore down Bunbury, to win 13.9 (87) to 7.14 (56) after starting slowly.
The Bulldogs generally had control in the first quarter and the Eagles midfielders had difficulty getting the ball to forwards Cox and Paul Lindsey and at the first change led 3.3 to 2.2.
The Eagles used the strong sea breeze well in the second quarter.
They played a tight second quarter, while increasing opportunities for their forwards.
The strong wind might have helped the Eagles, with some kicks travelling long distances, but it made it difficult for players to be efficient with the ball.
The Eagles were awarded a 50 metre penalty, which was doubled after Bunbury players began to brawl, gifting the Collie team a goa.
By the end of the second term the Eagles had got out to an 8.5 to 4.6 lead.
The Bulldogs, kicking with the breeze, won the third quarter, but the Eagles had some great moments, which included Blair Malatesta soccering a goal from about ten metres out, while being heavily pressured.
It was raining at the end of the quarter but when the final term started on 10.7 to 7.14 in the Eagles’ favour, the bad weather slowed.
The Eagles endurance saw them run out the game with three goals, while holding the now exhausted Bulldogs scoreless.
Collie Eagles, goal scorers: Shannon Cox 3, Blair Malatesta, Matt Michael, Jarrod Martin, Adam Bignell, Teke Vernon 2. Best players: Michael Roney, Talon Michael, Ryan Brown, Adam Bignell, Paul Lindsay, David Cowan.
