Round 16 WAFL ResultsSunday, July 7, 2013 - 11:01 PM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFL's top-two teams Claremont and West Perth escaped with tight wins over the league's bottom two sides in Saturday's Round 16 action while Swan Districts took Perth's fourth position and East Fremantle stayed alive in the finals race.

The four matches were all played on Saturday afternoon with Claremont holding on to beat South Fremantle 13.16 (94) to 14.6 (90) at Fremantle Oval while West Perth beat Peel 15.11 (101) to 13.7 (85) at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium.

The other two games weren’t quite as tight with Swan Districts thrashing Perth 24.12 (156) to 10.7 (67) at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval and East Fremantle thumping Subiaco 17.21 (123) to 8.9 (57) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.

The results leave Claremont (13-1) still clear on top of the ladder after 16 rounds followed by West Perth (10-4) and East Perth (8-5). Then it gets tight with Swan Districts (7-6) fourth, Perth (7-6) fifth, East Fremantle (6-8) sixth and Subiaco (5-8) seventh. Peel (3-11) is eighth and South Fremantle (2-12) last.

West Perth kicked seven straight goals in the first quarter after Peel got the first major of the game and then the Falcons led by as much as 56 points late in the third term.

However, Peel wasn’t done with and the Thunder went on a run of eight straight goals either side of three quarter-time, with Brad Holmes booting four of them, to get within nine points before Anthony Tsalikis won a free-kick in front of goal to boot the sealer for the Falcons.

Marc Crisp was terrific all afternoon for the Falcons finishing with a career-best five goals with Matt Fowler adding three.

Shane Nelson racked up 31 possessions, Rohan Kerr 26, Jay van Berlo 25 and ruckman Chris Keunen 24 to go with 23 hit outs and a goal. Luke Tedesco also had 19 disposals and Steve Potente had 20 while running with Peel's Marlon Motlop and limiting his impact on the contest.

Holmes kicked a season-high six goals for Peel with Fremantle's Matt Taberner returning to the line-up to kick two.

Captain Brendon Jones racked up 32 possessions and laid 15 tackles with Paul Bower gathering 23 disposals, Viv Michie 23, Motlop 22, Jesse Crichton 18 and Brennan Gillam 18.

Peter Faulks did well keeping Tsalikis to just the one goal while Fremantle pair Jack Hannath and Craig Moller shared the ruck duties on return for the Thunder.

Claremont led by 34 points at quarter-time against South Fremantle but the Bulldogs then kicked the next seven goals straight to hit the lead in the final term before the Tigers steadied to win by four points.

Jack Bradshaw had a day out for the Tigers finishing with six goals from 25 possessions and seven marks and he was Claremont's only multiple goal scorer.

Claremont skipper Andrew Browne picked up 36 possessions to go with 10 inside-50 entries and a goal. Jake Murphy gathered 31 disposals, Ben Daniher 26 and ruckman Mark Seaby 23 to go with a massive 59 hit outs as South Fremantle battled without ruckman Sean Tighe.

Paul Mugambwa and Ashton Hams kicked three goals each for the Bulldogs as did Mitch Banner to go with his 27 possessions.

Craig White picked up 25 disposals, Haiden Schloithe 24, Ryan Cook 22, Dylan Ross 22 and Adam McIntosh 21.

East Fremantle dominated Subiaco from the outset at Medibank Stadium and ended up winning by 66 points and it could have been by more had the Sharks kicked straight.

Jack Perham kicked four goals for East Fremantle with Ryan Lester-Smith adding three, James Depane two and Max Duffy two before injuring a hamstring.

Rory O'Brien racked up 38 possessions, Mark McGough 34, Richard Hadley 24, Tom Howlett 23, Scott Hancock 21 and Mitch Boyle 20.

Michael Wood and Charles Le Fanu kicked two goals apiece for Subiaco with George Hampson collecting 27 disposals, Abe Davey 21 and Jason Bristow 20.

Swan Districts dominated Perth to end up winning by 89 points to take fourth position of the ladder off Perth.

Tim Geappen and Dayle Garlett kicked four goals apiece for Swan Districts with Ryan Davis adding three, Murray Newman two and Lachie Neale two to go with 34 possessions.

Shaun Hildebrandt also racked up 32 disposals for Swans, Tom Roach 29, Brett Robinson 28, Wayde Twomey 28, Matt Riggio 27, Aaron Elari 27, Tallan Ames 24 and Justin Simpson 22.

Brennan Stack and Chance Bateman kicked two goals each for the Demons with Matt Tedesco finishing with 23 possessions, Dene White 21 and Brett Hodge 21.

ROUND 16 RESULTS
LEAGUE
Peel Thunder 13.7 (85) lost to West Perth 15.11 (101)
South Fremantle 14.6 (90) lost to Claremont 13.16 (94)
Subiaco 8.9 (57) lost to East Fremantle 17.21 (123)
Swan Districts 24.12 (156) beat Perth 10.7 (67)

RESERVES
Peel Thunder 7.3 (45) lost to West Perth 17.15 (117)
South Fremantle 11.14 (80) beat Claremont 8.11 (59)
Subiaco 11.17 (83) drew with East Fremantle 12.11 (83)
Swan Districts 11.7 (73) lost to Perth 11.10 (76)

COLTS
Peel Thunder 6.11 (47) lost to West Perth 8.12 (60)
South Fremantle 12.11 (83) beat Claremont 4.8 (32)
Subiaco 12.9 (81) beat East Fremantle 7.10 (52)
Swan Districts 6.8 (44) lost to Perth 13.9 (87)