The Dons suffered a blow when their captain and backline lynchpin Hayden Martindale was forced from the ground early after a blow to the head.

Regrouping, Donnybrook matched the Lions for the first term, being only five points adrift at the first change, with every confidence of staying in touch as the rain closed in.

HBL, however, kicked away with the wind in the second quarter. In what would be the pattern of the day as the weather worsened, Donnybrook could muster only single goal scorers for each term. Meanwhile the opposition, with better support play, made better use of the ball and scored regularly.

Goal scorers for the Dons were Dave Bunter, David King (pushed forward from defence) and one of the Dons’ better players on the day Lyndon Muir, who did his best to lead by example.

The under-rated Stuart Ellis also seemed to cope well in the trying conditions but few were left to fly the flag for Donnybrook and they would never be enough.

HBL ran out comfortable winners. The final score was Donnybrook 4.6.(30 points) to HBL 12.11.(83 points).

Donnybrook must now beat Busselton next week and hope that other results go their way to have any future in the finals games this year.