Round Fourteen
South Perth Lions 26 – Willagee Bears 22
By PETER ROWE
South Perth regained top spot on the Fuel to Go and Play Premiership at George Burnett Park on Saturday afternoon, but they were made to fight for the win, edging the Bears by just four points.
“We were scrappy, especially in the first half, coach Duane Gwiazdzinski said.
“Unforced errors and incomplete sets. But we improved in the second half and I was pleased we got the win, but that first half was messy.”
Billy Judge has enjoyed his return to first grade in 2025 / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
Gwiazdzinski’s son Jozef, playing at lock, was the first to score before Willagee scored three times to take a ten point lead, through captain Kainoa Gudgeon, centre Shai Wiperi and half Tamaho Tierney.
Hooker Jayden Evans then crossed before winger Josh Perring skilfully took a high bomb from Gudgeon to return 55 metres to score.
Winger Simeon Oi gave what South Perth fans thought was a good enough lead to take the game before Willagee fired back late with a try from Rahkeem Tuuta-Edwards.
“Soni (halfback Langi) led from the front as always and Tim Noble was outstanding,” Gwiazdzinski said.
Tamaho Teirney and Kainoa Gudgeon led the way on the weekend / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“And I was really happy with our back three – didn’t make an error all day and defused every kick that came their way.”
The loss was disappointing but Bears coach Nelson Davis was proud of the effort.
“We had a few out and we gifted them a couple tries but we move on. We had a good lead before they came back at us and we played some good football at the end – another few minutes and we might have won.”
