Sport
21 August, 2023
Talbot denies Royal Park final win
Royal Park fell desperately short of a stunning upset in their final game as a club, going down by six points to Talbot. It was a brave effort that denied Talbot a finals berth at the last gasp, falling 76 points short of securing a finals berth...
ROYAL PARK 10.5 (65) def by TALBOT 10.11 (71)
Royal Park fell desperately short of a stunning upset in their final game as a club, going down by six points to Talbot.
It was a brave effort that denied Talbot a finals berth at the last gasp, falling 76 points short of securing a finals berth owing to Newstead’s 102-point loss to Navarre.
Realistically, it was a slow start from the Hawks that cost them any chance of featuring in the finals action, with Royal Park bursting out of the blocks with four of the first five goals to establish a 19-point lead at the first break.
That sparked the Hawks into action, and they were able to get a footing into the game by kicking three goals to one in the second term, but Royal Park continued to lead by a goal at the main break.
The third quarter was a battle, with both teams throwing everything to the cause. However, the Tigers were holding firm for long parts of the quarter, although the Hawks would hit the front and lead by two points at the last change.
The last quarter was a beauty, with a desperate Bushy doing everything they could to send off their supporters with an emotional victory, and were able to hit the front midway through, despite going down to just one fit player on the bench.
But a goal with just a handful of minutes to go allowed Talbot to take back control of the game, and they were able to hold on by a kick.
Best players and goalkickers were not provided for the Hawks at the time of publication.
For Royal Park, Jacob Rollason was outstanding up forward, kicking four goals, and Lachlan Bates, Rhys Egan in his 100th game, Jude Gourley, Mark Ashmore and Jack Broad were all named in the best.