Clean sweep for Swannies in Hedland derby round as Rovers fall short across three fixtures

In the derby round of the North Pilbara Football, the South Hedland Swans and Blazers have taken out all three fixtures against the Port Hedland Rovers in the most passionate clash of the season. The women’s match opened the Friday night fixtures at the Kevin Scott Oval where the fourth-placed Blazers took on the bottom-placed Rovers. The match saw multiple bone-crunching tackles from Blazers whose suffocating defence kept the Rovers scoreless for most of the match. A behind in the final minute of the game salvaged what would’ve been a flawless defensive masterclass, with the final score ending 5.3 (33) to 0.1 (1). The League fixture was less one-sided, as the last-placed Rovers put up a tough fight against the fifth-placed Swans throughout the first three quarters. While the two teams are separated by 16 points on the ladder, assistant coach Jacob Sanders said the Rovers brought a style of play that really challenged the Swans. “They definitely brought the best team to try to beat us,” he said. “And they brought a pretty good game plan as well, using all their fast blokes around the ball and by getting out the back they managed to keep it pretty close. So it was a pretty good hit out for them.” The first quarter went back and forth, with both teams trading two goals each, including a spectacular banana from Steele Viti for the Swans. The second quarter opened 2.3 (15) to 2.5 (17) in favour of South Hedland, and two quick goals in the opening five minutes pushed their lead out further. Viti featured again, but this time for an off-ball hit that saw the tall forward sent off the field by the umpire. Sanders said the team played with a lot of passion as they desperately try to keep their finals hopes alive with two matches left in the season. “It’s a big positive, we haven’t lost a derby all year so it’s a big bonus for us heading into the finals in a few weeks,” he said. “The boys play more for the jumper when we go up against Rovers and I know the Rovers don’t like losing to us and we don’t like losing to them so we play harder and more fierce.” Despite a big fight through the first three quarters, the Swans held on 12.14 (86) to 9.6 (60) and with only two rounds to go the Rovers are still chasing their first win of the season. The Rovers did get to celebrate stalwart player Ashley Mulhall who ran out for his 100th appearance for the club. It was also the 50th game for South Hedland Swans players Hermy Abu Bakar, who is a two-time fairest and best winner at the club, and also Fathullah Rampton who won the 2016 reserves premiership with the Swans. In the last game of the night, Reserves league leaders South Hedland extended their hold on the top of the ladder with a big win over the fourth-placed Rovers, 15.6 (96) to 5.12 (42).