The Hawks claimed the two premiership points, but it is fair to suggest that South lost the game in the first quarter.
This is perhaps harsh to both teams, but with the Bulldogs kicking to the Augusta Terrace end that has so far seen teams get a sizeable jump on the opposition, the return was wasteful.
South’s midfield, Adam and Matt Grantham in particular, absolutely dominated out of the middle and across half back and with Kernahan again on-fire the Bullies should have been five goals to the good.
With no Amos or Shillabeer, it was left to Kernahan to once again act as the sole focal point from the square.
But his three points and two out on the full proved to be a let off for the Hawks.
In fact at the other end, West from their limited opportunities kicked two goals; Scharenberg kicking the first of the match after nearly 17 minutes, and led after 20 minutes by 11 points.
The Bulldogs came out snarling in the second term and Kernahan scored his team’s first major.
Still, it was red over purple, but possession was not been converted into goals.
With five minutes left until the main break it was West’s turn to pepper the goals but they too had the yips.
After a totally forgettable first half, West Augusta 2.5.17 led South Augusta 1.9.15.
The third term was more of the same, although West added two more goals in the “premiership quarter” to double their opponents score, as South added only a point.
Stand-in skipper Ryan Noll did lift a few cogs to be outstanding on the last line as Foulis, Dadleh, Scharenberg, Stapleton, Bowey, Higgins and Jordan Warren placed enormous pressure on the Bulldog forward thrusts.
Still South had some big performers in the Wingfield, Brown, Skipworth, Daniel and Jake Collins and Laube working hard but not penetrating a virtual purple wall.
It may have been worth South throwing a tall up forward to give the runners something to look up to and to make the Hawks think a little harder as the Bullies did not appear to have too many scoring options and thus a tad predictable.
The final quarter was a “goal rush” as West kicked four and South two as both teams looked as if they were treading water, such had the game taken out them physically.
Two lesser-known players stood out in 16-year-old Bulldog Daniel Royals and run all-day Matt Hannan on a Hawk wing who had five opponents while it was fantastic to see the prodigiously talented Brett McKerlie possibly grab best on ground votes for his new club.
It took all game but West finally unlocked South across half forward and the Bullies unravelled around the ground.
The heartbreaker was possibly Hayden Warren’s unbelievable check-side goal after chinking in and around a number of red guernseys a feat that even amazed him.
Just quietly, he had 20 kicks, 10 marks, six handballs and slotted four goals for the game.
He scored another immediately after, then a succession of minor scores for both sides and then four goals in a row alternating between the two teams to Woodforde, Reid, Higgins and Michael Heron saw the game out.
A 21 point win to slightly fitter West in a very low-scoring, mistake-riddled, low-standard tussle.
Both sides were without some very classy players as South could have done with Shillabeer, Amos, Dohnt and Hannes, just as Zubrinich, Kenny, Hilder and Hobbs when available would make a big difference for West.
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