MATCH REPORT: PEEL THUNDER VS SWAN DISTRICTS – 25 JUNE 2016

An injury-hit Peel Thunder was no match for Swan Districts on Saturday, going down to the league’s bottom side by 39 points.

Peel was forced to do without a host of Fremantle-listed players, who were either injured or rested by the Dockers, who have a bye this weekend.

The home side suffered further blows when Clancee Pearce was forced from the ground with an ankle injury during the second quarter, while defender Josh Bootsma also injured his leg and was unable to continue.

Despite eventually losing the match 12.7 (79) to 18.10 (118), Peel kept in touch with Swans until the final break, largely due to the efforts of Rory O’Brien (38 possessions) and Andrew Haydon (33 possessions).

Peel’s Corey Morris said O’Brien was a strong leader.

“He has been really good since he came to the club,” Morris said.

“I thought he played a strong game, I thought Andrew Haydon also played very well through the middle.”

Haydn Matthews and Alexander Bray both made their league debut and team mate Josh Deluca said he was impressed with the youngsters.

“Yeah, I think they really stood up, thought they played their role,” he said.

“We didn’t get the job done but I thought their effort was good.”

Peel trailed by just five points at quarter-time, but Swans piled on eight goals during the second quarter.

The Thunder came out firing in the third, kicking four goals to the Swans’ two.

But the black-and-whites again kicked away during the final term.

Ricky Cary booted six goal for the visitors and collected 20 possessions in what was a dominant display.

Peel has the bye this weekend before returning to Bendigo Bank Stadium on July 9 for a must-win match against third-placed West Perth.