Swans undefeated after Sharks clash

South Hedland Swans League triumphed over the Dampier Sharks by a 13-point margin in their round five match on Saturday night.

The rematch of last year’s close grand final saw dogged determination and a fast-running game style on show from both teams. While the momentum kept switching sides, in the end reigning premiers the Swans got the win.

The game at Dampier’s Windy Ridge Oval was fast and physical from the outset and it was the Sharks who were out of the gate quickest with a few early goals.

But partway through the quarter Swans players took control of the game and turned the tables, kicking several soccer goals through gaps in the Sharks’ defence.

The second quarter started slow, with the ball spending a lot of time tied up in the Swans’ offensive zone without any significant break through.

When Dampier finally got their hands on the ball midway through they worked hard to capitalise on their opponent’s missed opportunities.

They scored two goals in a row, going to half time only two points down from the top team 4-8 (32) to 5-1 (31).

The Swans wasted no time in the third term, surging forward and scoring a series of unanswered goals that had Dampier worried as they saw the margin running away.

Sharks’ Guy Langdon delivered a big morale boost to his team at a crucial point in the game when he marked the ball near goal and slotted it in to put his team within 17 points going into three quarter time.

Dampier kept on fighting in the final quarter and got to within 10 points of their opponents, but suffered from inaccurate kicking at the end result.

This gave the win to a still-undefeated South Hedland side, 9-13 (67) to 8-6 (54).

Sharks had reason to be much happier with the result of their Reserves match however, where they trumped the Swans by more than 100 points.

Dampier had a field day on the scoreboard and Arron Ebsworth kicked seven goals alone.

The final score was 22.10 (142) to 4-6 (30) to the Sharks.