PEEL Thunder and Claremont were both desperate to win on Saturday at Bendigo Bank Stadium and in the end it was Peel who controlled the second half to come away with the 20-point victory.

 

Both teams had won just the one game apiece in the opening five rounds of the 2018 WAFL season heightening the need to return to the winner's list when they did battle on Saturday in Mandurah.

 

Each side took advantage of the breeze in the opening half with Claremont taking a narrow two-point advantage into the long break. 

 

Peel pulled away in the third quarter and then continued to pull away in the last quarter with Claremont once again overrun, with the Thunder kicking three goals to two against the breeze to end up winning 14.14 (98) to 11.12 (78).

 

The win improves the two-time reigning premiers Peel to a 2-4 record on the season while Claremont slips to 1-5 entering the State game break against South Australia in Adelaide this Saturday.

 

The game followed a similar script as the season has gone for the Tigers. Claremont has once again managed to be strongly competitive throughout most of the games they've played, but again on Saturday they were well beaten in the last quarter.

 

Now over their first five games of 2018, Claremont has lost its fourth quarters by a total of 65 points which is a big reason why the Tigers find themselves near the bottom of the table.

 

Peel's big men Luke Strnadica and Michael Apeness both had a good impact on the final result. Strnadica finished with 16 possessions, four marks, 21 hit outs and three goals, and Apeness seven touches, three marks, 20 hit outs and a goal.

Captain Gerald Ugle also kicked two goals for the Thunder from 17 possessions with Leroy Jetta also booting two before succumbing to a hamstring complaint. Michael Tassone kicked two goals too from seven kicks.

Danyle Pearce continued to press his claims for a return to Fremantle's AFL team with another 33 possessions, five marks, five tackles and five inside-50 entries.

Tom Sheridan picked up 28 disposals for the Thunder, Traye Bennell 27, Stefan Giro 25, Ben Howlett 22 and Shane Kersten 21 to go with 10 marks.

Claremont veteran Beau Maister fought hard to provide a strong option in attack kicking four goals from seven kicks and six marks. Debutant James Egan also kicked three goals for the Tigers from seven kicks.

Claremont's Sandover Medal winning duo in the midfield Jye Bolton and Kane Mitchell were tremendous again. Bolton finished with 33 possessions and 10 inside-50 entries with Mitchell delivering 27 disposals, 10 tackles and eight marks.

Haydn Busher had another strong performance down back for Claremont with 23 possessions and six marks with Tom Ledger finishing the afternoon with 21 disposals, Tom Curren 20, Ryan Lim 19 and Morgan Davies 17 to go with seven tackles.

Peel began the game with the breeze behind its back and the Thunder did get the game's first goal as a result courtesy of Hayden Matthews after less than three minutes.

Claremont responded soon after thanks to Jordan Law but the Thunder got on top and got goals to Leroy Jetta (two), Michael Tassone and Ben Howlett before quarter-time to take an 18-point advantage into the first break.

But the Tigers enjoyed the breeze in the second quarter and took advantage with goals to Jack Beeck, Maister, James Egan and then Maister again to see them take a narrow two-point advantage into half-time.

The game was right on the line at the main break but after kicking a goal just before half-time as well, Peel captain Gerald Ugle added a second just 55 seconds into the third term before Michael Apeness and Luke Strnadica stood tall and goaled as well.

Those three goals in seven minutes gave Peel a 16-point lead and they would hold that advantage the rest of the way.

Peel went on to lead by 13 points at three quarter-time and then did well to boot three goals to two in the last quarter to claim the 20-point victory.

Meanwhile, in the reserves contest at Bendigo Bank Stadium, it was Claremont who scored a 14.4 (88) to 7.7 (49) victory over Peel.

Eddie Simpson put his hand up for a league recall with Claremont delivering 18 possessions, five marks, 15 hit outs and three goals. Kaiden Gilbert and Cooper Nitschke kicked three goals each too.

Lachlan Martinis racked up 28 possessions for the Tigers, Isaac Wallace 22, Jacob Sideris 20, Jesse Laurie 18 and Addison Dew 18.

Brett Milward and Alex Cohen kicked two goals apiece for Peel.

Keegan Power racked up 30 disposals for the Thunder, Chris Wrigley 23, Kaine Ah Chee 21, Michael Humble 19, Alex Bray 18 and Lloyd Meek 17 to go with 47 hit outs.

Following the break for the State game this Saturday, Peel Thunder will take on Subiaco at Bendigo Bank Stadium in Round 7 on Saturday May 19. It will be the first Grand Final rematch of 2018.

 

Claremont is back home to Claremont Oval on the same day to take on Perth who is also a 1-5 team following the opening six rounds.

 

 

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Strnadica 3; Ugle, Jetta, Tassone 2; Howlett, Bennell, Matthews, Hancock, Apeness.

Best: Pearce, Bennell, Sheridan, Strnadica, Howlett, Ugle, Giro.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Maister 4; Egan 3; Richardson, Beeck, Ledger, Law.

Best: Bolton, Mitchell, Maister, Egan, Curren, Busher, Ledger.