Royals hold off Demons in ANZAC clash

EAST Perth’s eight goals to four last quarter proved the difference on Saturday, as Perth went down by 44 points at Lathlain Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Demons were keen to make amends after a 98-point hiding at the hands of South Fremantle from last weekend, looking to get off the bottom of the ladder with a win over the Royals who went in on the back of consecutive wins.

The match ebbed and flowed throughout the afternoon, with the margin always in favour of the Royals but not out of reach for the Demons.

East Perth got an early start with the first three goals of the game in the first quarter to lead at the first break by 16 points.

Perth lifted in the second quarter through debutant Lennon Marlin’s first goal for the club from a set shot in the pocket, as the Demons kicked four goals to one for the quarter to trail by two points at the long break.

Perth continued to press in the third off the back of their momentum from the second, but it was East Perth who reaped the rewards through quick ball movement through the middle of the ground to give their forwards more scoring chances.

Luke Partington’s goal on the stroke of three-quarter time pushed the margin out to 22 points, which left Earl Spalding’s men an almighty challenge if they were to comeback and take the four points.

Both sides traded goals until the 22^nd minute mark where a set shot goal from Demons forward Callum Walley brought the margin back to 15 points with ample time to play.

However it was East Perth’s perseverance with their ball movement through the corridor which saw them over the line, as the Royals kicked the last four goals of the game to run away with the 17.9 (111) to 10.7 (67) victory.

Clint Jones was one of the best on the field for the Demons with 35 disposals, along with fellow ball winners Liam McKenna (26 disposals and a goal), Aidan Tropiano (25), Julian Jacobs (24) and Jared Bell (17, including seven marks).

For the Royals, Tom Lamb kicked five goals from full-forward (four of which in the second half), with West Coast players Corey Adamson (26 disposals) and Mark Hutchings (23, including six inside 50’s) both having prominent influence with the ball along with 100^th gamer Steven Payne (22 disposals).

The colts notched up another impressive victory with a 46-point victory, while the reserves sit bottom of the ladder after a 37-point loss.

The Demons travel down to Mandurah on Saturday to take on Peel Thunder at 2.15pm at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

TOTAL

EAST PERTH                3.3       4.7       9.9       17.9 (111)

PERTH                         0.5       4.5       6.5       10.7 (67)

BEST

EAST PERTH: S Payne, C Adamson, T Barrass, M Hutchings, L Partington, S Hille

PERTH: C Jones, J Jacobs, A Tropiano, J Bell, M Sinclair, B Latch

GOALS

EAST PERTH: T Lamb 5, M Allen 2, P McGinnity 2, L Partington 2, J Bennell 1, J Giles 1, C Wulff 1, D Roche 1, B Colledge 1, S Hille 1.

PERTH: C Walley 2, L Wilkins 1, S Mills 1, L Dennis 1, L Marlin 1, M Sinclair 1, L McKenna 1, A Graham 1, M Taylor 1.

REPORTS: L Dennis (Perth) reported for rough conduct in the fourth quarter.

CROWD: 1800 (approx) at Lathlain Park

UMPIRES: L Jago, R Shelton, R McCaw