In what was a close and entertaining match against the West Augusta Hawks at Port Pirie’s Memorial Oval on Saturday, the Port Bulldogs took two premiership points by two points.
Port won the toss and kicked toward the bowling green with the aid of a three to four goal breeze.
Even still, Port struggled to push forward early in the term and the first goal of the game was scored by West’s Peter Bowey half way through.
The Bulldogs started to win possession of the ball and Terry Hall levelled the score at the 12 minute mark.
The Hawks kept battling hard and with Jason Lukich working hard in the midfield and Ryan Noll playing well across half back as they did for all of the game.
They were able to contain the Bulldogs to just one goal for the term.
In the second season, the Bulldogs came out firing with Michael Burford and Norm Wombat combining well in the middle and Kieran Johanson, Josh Sykes and Matt Gale all kicking goals against the breeze.
Following some missed shots on goal, Jordan Warren - another in West’s best players - kicked a nice long goal at the 17 minute mark of the quarter.
Josh Scharenberg followed with another goal for the Hawks.
Gale, who was being played hard and close by West’s Bret McKerlie, again kicked truly and gave the Bulldogs a nine point lead.
But just before the half time siren Shannon Page goaled and reduced that margin to just three points at the long break.
Both sides came out wanting the ball and after an even five minutes, Scharenburg kicked his second goal for the Hawks giving them a three point lead.
The play was bottled up on the outer side of the ground and it was not until Brodie Mudge kicked a major and regained a three point lead for Port.
Matt Kendall also kicked a good roving goal then just before the siren, Page marked as he did in the second term and kicked his second for the match.
At the final change, the Bulldogs held a slender one point lead.
West came home with the breeze and following a missed shot on goal, Page had his third.
Not long after Scharenburg had his third goal of the match giving West had a handy 13 point lead.
The game seemed out of the Bulldog’s reach.
But Port moved the ball forward quickly to score goals by Zac Hutchinson and Gale to cut the lead to one point.
Andrew Featherstonehaugh then kicked three goals in a row against the wind, pushing Port into a five point lead.
Chris Stephens completely cut Hayden Warren out of the game from there it was Port’s match.
The Hawks’ wasted opportunities included with three misses on goal late in the game and a total six for the final term.
Port took a narrow two point victory, kicking seven of their ten goals against the breeze; some of their players seemed to work harder into the wind than when they had in at their backs.
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