WAFL 2019: Subiaco back to winning ways with 24-point victory over Claremont

THE third quarter is traditionally known as the premiership quarter but it was the second term at Claremont Oval today when Subiaco underlined their premiership credentials.

Snarling after losing their first match in two seasons the previous week, the Lions overwhelmed Claremont by 24 points with the second quarter differential highlighting their key advantages.

After an even first quarter, Subiaco changed gears in the second to win 11.10 (76) to 8.4 (52) and remind observers that they had played in the past five grand finals and intended to qualify for another this year.

They entered their forward 50 zone a remarkable 21 times to Claremont’s three in the term while they had 12 shots at goal and kept the Tigers scoreless.

Ben Sokol alone had five shots at goal and while he landed just one, the constant threat he posed rattled the Claremont defence and drew so much attention that his team-mates were able to exploit their extra time and space.

While tagger Craig Hoskins kept dual Sandover medallist Jye Bolton to two touches in the term, and just three in the first half before he finished with eight, Lions captain Leigh Kitchin was a dynamic contributor to the team cause.

He had 20 disposals by half-time, including six of his team’s 20 clearances, and finished with 28 to lead his team in the fashion of his predecessor Kyal Horsley.

Claremont rebounded strongly in the third term to kick three goals in four minutes to whittle the deficit to 11 points, but it was a false dawn.

Subiaco proved stronger and more composed under pressure and found ways to land blows on the scoreboard to keep their opponents at bay.

Rhys Waters found sufficient room to kick two goals, Ryan Borchet was a danger with three and Clancy Wheeler, in his first match since the opening round, worked his way into the contest.

SUBIACO: 2.2 6.8 8.9 11.10 76

CLAREMONT: 2.1 2.1 6.3 8.4 52

GOALS – SUBIACO: Borchet 3; Waters 2; Kitchin, Newton, Sokol, Wheeler, Horsley, Moore.

CLAREMONT: Bradshaw 3; Treacy, Oakley 2; Lim.

BEST – SUBIACO: Kitchin, Hoskins, Newton, Horsley, Powell, Borchet.

CLAREMONT: Mitchell, Lim, Martinis, Rogers, Hamp, Goddard.

UMPIRES: J Fry, D Johanson, T McPhee

CROWD: 1200 (approx) at Claremont Oval.