LSWFL: Kojonup beat Bridgetown in Sock It 2 MND Game, Boyup Brook register biggest win of season over Tigers

Kojonup defeated Bridgetown by 22 points in the Lower South West Football League’s Sock It 2 MND game at Kojonup Sporting Complex on Saturday. Both teams wore special blue socks to raise awareness for the neurodegenerative disease, which has no known cure and affects around 2000 Australians. On the field, the ladder-leading Cougars overcame a slow start to record a 13.16 (94) to 10.12 (72) victory. Desperately needing a win to keep in touch with the top four, the Bulldogs made a brilliant start, kicking six goals in the first term to jump out to a 19-point quarter-time lead. But the Cougars were able to wrestle the initiative back over the course of the day, reducing their half-time deficit to just one point and taking a one-goal lead into the final quarter, which they were able to build on. Lee Lucev (four goals) and Liam Want (three goals) had good days for the winners as Bulldogs captain Brett Wilson did all he could for his side, kicking three goals. * Saturday’s other game saw Boyup Brook record the biggest win of the season, thumping Manjimup Tigers by 143 points at Boyup Brook Oval. A dominant 27.14 (176) to 4.9 (33) victory sees the second-placed Roos keep the pressure on the ladder-leading Cougars, while the Tigers remain rock-bottom of the ladder with a percentage of just 31.7. The hosts burst out of the blocks with an eight-goal to one opening quarter to lead by 38 points at the first break and did not relent from there, boosting their lead to 80 points at the main break and 108 points at the final interval. Several Roos enjoyed big days in front of goal, with Matthew Thompson (eight goals), Mathew Michael (seven goals) and David Cowan (five goals) all in on the act. * Sunday’s fixture at Manjimup Recreation Ground saw something of an upset, with fourth-placed Deanmill beating third-placed Imperials by 32 points. The Hawks came into the contest trailing their hosts by one win on the ladder, but the two sides are now only separated by percentage after a 14.10 (92) to 9.8 (62) result. Bolstered by the return of junior product Cooper Sparks, who has spent recent seasons with South West Football League clubs Carey Park and Harvey Bulls, the visitors jumped out to a 26-point half-time lead before holding off a late Imperials charge to come away with the four points. Brodie Reeve, Archie Hall, Nicholas Gleeson stood out for the Hawks as Ben Farquhar and Kai McGinty both kicked three goals, while Keenan-Cruz Wilson (four goals) and captain Tyler Ipsen gave their all in defeat for the hosts.