Imps sink Southerners by 43 on the road

Imperials have taken down the Southerners for the third time in the 2021 Lower South West Football League season, this time by 43 points on the road. The two sides met in Pemberton on Saturday afternoon, with Southerners still hunting their first win of the year and Imperials determined to not be the team who gives it to them. The early game was a fairly one-sided affair as the visitors stormed away to a five-goal lead by quarter-time. However, Southerners are not a club to give up easily and fought back hard in the second term to just outscore their opponents, kicking four majors to Imperials’ three for the quarter as the lead was pulled back to 24 points. It gave Imps a chance to reset at half-time and plan their second-half strategy. Southerners needed four goals to close the gap but the contested pressure of the game produced a relatively low-scoring third quarter as Imperials pulled ahead once again. Unfortunately for the home team, Imperials were able to storm home in the final term and boot another five goals to Southerners’ two, finishing on top 16.7 (103) to 8.12 (60). Imperials will take plenty of positives out of the win, including the fact 12 separate players hit the scoreboard on the day, led by three goals from captain Tyler Ipsen. Imperials will now host Kojonup in Manjimup on Saturday, while Southerners are set to face Bridgetown in Bridgetown on Sunday.