Bulldogs and Lightning fly as Sharks and Cougars falter

BASKETBALL

The Lakeside Lightning women have continued their winning ways after beating Joondalup Wolves by 20 points on Friday night.

Alison Schwagmeyer dominated with the ball, sinking a game-high 31 points including five three-pointers, to help notch the 83-63 win and keep her team undefeated in 2019 after four rounds.

Geanna Luaulu-Summers (14 points), Courtney Byrnes (13) and Ellyce Ironmonger (13) also contributed strongly in the paint.

The Lightning men weren’t as successful, recording their first blemish of the season with a 89-70 loss to the Wolves.

Five Lakeside players reached double digit individual scores, led by Joshua Davey with 16, but none were able to stamp their authority on the game and lift the team to victory.

The Cockburn Cougars men are yet to get off the mark in 2019 after a demoralising 107-68 away loss to Geraldton on Saturday.

Jaarod Holmes top scored for Cockburn with 19, while returning import Eric Milam notched just six in his first game back for the Cougars since 2015.

The Cockburn women had a bye.

After four rounds, Lakeside’s women sit undefeated atop the ladder with Rockingham, while the Cockburn women are 5th.

The Lakeside men are third behind Joondalup and Geraldton while the Cougars are languishing near the bottom in 13th.

Round 5 will see both clubs with home games on Friday, April 12, with Lakeside to host Willetton and Cockburn against Kalamunda.

Tip off at both Wally Hagan Stadium and Lakeside Recreation Centre is 6.30pm for the women and 8.30pm for the men.

Cockburn will back it up the next night with an away game against South West Slammers.

FOOTBALL

South Fremantle has kicked off WAFL 2019 with a win in a low-scoring game against Swan Districts.

The Bulldogs’ young brigade stood up when it counted in the 53-49 win, with former Hawthorn AFL player Kade Stewart leading the way with 28 disposals and a goal.

Haiden Schloithe and Chad Pearson also accumulated plenty of the ball with 26 touches each, while Brandon Donaldson (2 goals) was the only player to score multiples as South Fremantle’s work rate saw them out muscle their opponents.

East Fremantle had a start they’d rather forget, smashed by Claremont 103-25.

In a game with little upside for the Sharks, Cameron Eardley put in a big effort with his 24 touches while the team’s three solitary goals were scored by Sean Henson, Luke Strnadica and Cameron Loersch.

Round 2 will see South Fremantle host Perth and East Fremantle host 2018 premiers Subiaco.

The South Fremantle game will start at 1.15pm April 13 at Fremantle Oval while the East Fremantle game starts an hour later at 2.15pm at New Choices Homes Park (East Fremantle Oval).

RUGBY UNION

Injuries and a strong wind playing havoc with the ball hurt Harrisdale Arks this week as they dropped two of three games against Wests Scarborough.

The third grade game had plenty of mistakes in the first half but even with the wind in their favour the Arks found themselves 19 -5 down at half time.

A tough second half against the wind saw Harrisdale keep their opponents scoreless and Leighton Hanley score an equalling try with two minutes left in the game.

Blair Gibbons then coolly slotted an Arks penalty on full time to give the visitors a hard fought 22-19 victory.

With nine players missing due to injury or unavailability, the second grade game was expected to be tough.

Many third grade players backed up for their second game and put in a strong effort but despite their efforts Scarborough ran out comfortable 54-0 winners.

In the premier grade, Wests owned the first half and the wind advantage to go into the main break with a 23-0 lead.

The Arks had the wind advantage in the second half but Scarborough drew blood first, scoring a try after just two minutes to extend their lead.

The visitors got onto the scoring sheet five minutes later with their first try of the match, but Scarborough never lost control and ran out 56-28 winners.

Harrisdale will be at home for the first time this season when they host Perth Bayswater at Harrisdale Pavilion.

SOCCER

Cockburn City has been handed their first loss of the season after going down 1-0 to ladder leaders Balcatta FC on Saturday.

It was all tied up at halftime before Balcatta found the back of the net in the 64th minute to take the lead.

While Cockburn had plenty of the ball, they were unable to find the equaliser.

Armadale improved on last week’s five goal loss to Perth Glory by securing a 3-3 draw with Floreat Athena.

Floreat Athena took a two goal lead into halftime but Armadale came out firing in the second half with a brace to Adriano Jelenovic locking the game back up at 2-2 after the 58th minute.

When Joshua Cortes scored a third for Armadale in the 88th minute the visitors looked like stealing an unlikely victory until an injury time strike from Floreat’s Jason Saldaris ensured the points were shared.

After four rounds Armadale sit in 5th in the NPLWA ladder while Cockburn are 7th.

Round 5 will see Armadale host Balcatta at Alfred Skeet Reserve while Cockburn takes on Rockingham City at Dalmatinac Park.

Both games will kick off at 3pm, April 13.