Cavs win second title

The Peel Cavaliers have won back-to-back Landmark Championship Division One titles after a 16-point win over the South West today at Leederville Oval.

Both teams gave it their all, but Peel’s superior ball use and composure allowed them to claim their second title with a 6.10 (46) to 4.6 (30) victory.

Neither side gave an inch in the first term and it took until the 13 minute mark for Peel’s Kieran May to kick the first goal of the game.

This would be the only goal of the opening quarter as both sides struggled to gain ascendency, with most of the play taking place in the midfield.

Peel dominated much of the second term but got little reward for effort as the South West’s defence of Mason Hislop, Will Oelsnik and Travis Justins held them at bay.

Courtney Lakay broke through a pack and weaved through a few South West defenders to kick Peel’s second goal and open up what seemed to be a solid lead.

The South West countered quickly to boot their first goal through teenager Patrick Farrant but struggled to come up with any more meaningful attacks before half-time.

Peel started the second half brightly with a quick goal to Andrew Haydon, but the South West responded a minute later when Jayce Fontana converted a set shot from a tough angle.

This sparked some life into the South West, who for the first time in the game began to gain some momentum and use the ball with precision.

Aidan Clarke and Brett Peake began to use their run and carry, while Justins, Hislop and Michael Russell were holding strong in defence.

But Peel soon settled and their backline took a number of intercept marks to ensure the South West’s forwards did not get much opportunity to have an impact.

The South West could not get the ball into the hands of their better ball users, with Peel’s Brendan Tingey doing a good tagging role on Will Oelsnik and Daniel Griffin keeping Joel Houghton quiet.

The South West’s dominance was seemingly wasted when Clay Smith booted a goal just before three-quarter time to extend the lead to 16 points at the final break.

Stuart Puls have Peel the perfect start to the last term when he kicked his team’s fifth goal.

Robert Falkstrom put the result beyond doubt when he kicked his first goal midway through the term, giving Peel a 27-point lead.

Late goals from Clarke and Peake added a glimmer of hope to the South West’s chances, but by then the margin was already too big and Peel grabbed their second championship.

PFNL 1.1 2.4 4.8 6.10 (46)

SWFL 0.2 1.3 2.4 4.6 (30)

Goals: PFNL – K. May, C. Lakay, A. Haydon, C. Smith, S. Puls, R. Falkstrom. SWFL – P. Farrant, J. Fontana, A. Clarke, B. Peake.

Best: PFNL – C. Lakay, B. Tingey, A. Haydon, D. Griffin, K. May, C. Black. SWFL – A. Clarke, B. Della Franca, M. Hislop, T. Justins, M. Russell, G. Piggott.