BY DAN SCAMOZZI 

Despite recording 12 more inside 50s and two more scoring shots, a wasteful Claremont suffered a frustrating eight-point defeat against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Tigers dominated periods of the low-scoring contest but couldn’t convert their chances and trailed at every change, with a run of five consecutive goals from the more clinical Bulldogs either side of half-time setting up their 7.6 (48) to 5.10 (40) win, and Claremont’s first defeat for the season.

Powerful midfielder Dec Mountford (game-high 30 disposals, six tackles, six inside 50s) won best player and the players’ player award for his dominant performance, while hardworking forward Alec Waterman (20 disposals, game-high nine marks, game-high eight inside 50s, one goal) continued his strong form as he worked over South Fremantle’s defence and set up several Claremont goals.

Midfielder Jye Bolton was another strong performer, while tough defender Jack Lewsey (27 disposals, seven marks) repelled the Bulldogs on several occasions and gave the Tigers great rebound, and hard-running forward Cal England (15 disposals, one goal) battled manfully.

Meanwhile, versatile defender Haydn Busher blanketed Bulldogs forward Mason Shaw (six disposals, one goal), with fellow defender Dylan Smallwood (six marks) also impressing.

Anton Hamp (two goals) was the game’s only multiple goal kicker, while fellow forward Isaac Barton laid a team-high eight tackles.

Anthony Davis replaced Ben Edwards in the only change to the Claremont team that defeated Swan Districts in round two, as the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term.

A low-scoring arm-wrestle engulfed the opening 17 minutes of play before Haiden Schloithe kicked the only goal for the term to give the Bulldogs a five-point lead at quarter-time.

With Claremont +3 in inside 50s and the Bulldogs one player down after losing defender Chris Luff (ankle) to injury, coach Darren Harris urged the Tigers to take their chances and be more physical at the contest, before a kick to the hotspot from Waterman in the early stages of the second term set up Hamp for the visitors’ first goal.

The prolific Waterman then set up fellow forward Alex Manuel for the Tigers’ second goal and a seven-point lead, before several turnovers gifted the Bulldogs the ascendancy as the hosts kicked three unanswered goals to take a 10-point lead at half-time.

Waterman then began the second half in further ominous form, before two more goals extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 21 points and left the Tigers with plenty of work to do.

Hamp then kicked a badly-needed goal for the Tigers after being set up by Waterman as Claremont closed to within 16 points of the Bulldogs at the final change, with a passionate Harris urging his team to “play to win.”

A kick-to-advantage from Barton to England saw the latter kick the Tigers’ fourth goal before Waterman made the Bulldogs pay from a 50m penalty as Claremont trimmed the deficit to just four points at the 10-minute mark of the final term.

D. Smallwood then denied the Bulldogs on the last line of defence before a goal from Jake Florenca gave the hosts an 11-point lead, and despite the Tigers peppering the goals late in the game, South Fremantle held on for a narrow win.

The Tigers host Peel Thunder at Revo Fitness Stadium in round four.

CLAREMONT 0.4 2.5 3.7 5.10 (40)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.3 4.3 6.5 7.6 (48)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 A. Hamp, 1 A. Waterman, C. England, A. Manuel.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 1 H. Schloithe, J. Florenca, K. Russell, K. Stewart, D. Main, M. Shaw, T. Abbott.

BEST

CLAREMONT: D. Mountford, A. Waterman, J. Bolton, J. Lewsey, C. England.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Z. Strom, N. Suban, B. Rioli, N. Strom, J. Florenca, J. Miller.