A dominant day out for Kate Beswick translated to a huge win on the road for Pinjarra as they reaffirmed themselves as the league’s top side with a booming victory over Baldivis.
Beswick ran riot through the middle of the ground across the four quarters as the Tigers held the Brumbies goalless to take the win 0.1 (1) to 8.9 (57).
The match couldn’t have been a starker contrast to the last time the two sides met, which saw Baldivis pull off the upset of the season after steamrolling their visitors for a comeback victory.
This time around it was all one-way traffic, with Beswick leading the way as Jena Daniel and Jesse Salter starred alongside her to inspire the win.
However, it was full forward Lisa Dubberlin that got the ball rolling, booting the first goal of the day after her pressure led to a holding the ball free kick, and following it up almost instantly with a snap kick around the body gifting her side a two-goal advantage early.
Baldivis managed to wrestle back some momentum – thanks in large to Kerrilee Brown’s outstanding game in defence – but Daniel struck on the cusp of quarter time to give Pinjarra a three goal to zip start.
Things entered blowout territory when Salter put one through the goals in the opening minutes of the second term, but despite holding the ball in their front half for the majority of the period Pinjarra was unable to snare another before half time.
The tussle continued in the third with Baldivis seemingly having stemmed the flow of Pinjarra’s goal, but Courtney Fabry began to take over for the visitors with her efforts around the ground snaring the side two late majors.
For all their efforts taking the game on the Brumbies were yet to score heading into the fourth, with a behind midway through the quarter their only score for the day.
Tempers flared a shade late in the game when Caitlyn Moynihan took exception to a piece of play from Beswick, leading to a 50m penalty and eventually a goal for Salter, before Daniel put the finishing touches on the win.
The victory cements Pinjarra’s status atop the table, with the side set to return home next week for a clash with cellar dwellers Dwellingup.
Meanwhile the Brumbies are back in action against an in-form South Mandurah outfit, in a game that could shape each side’s fortunes down the stretch.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
