Football: Bulldogs on the board

Bunbury held off a plucky Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault by 31 points to break through for its first victory of the season on Sunday.

After jumping out of the blocks, the Bulldogs were forced to work hard for the 15.10 (100) to 10.9 (69) triumph at Payne Park.

Trailing by 43 points at the long break, the Lions launched a spirited second-half comeback to close within three goals early in the final term.

But the home side held sway with Jordan Adamson-Holmes booting four goals, including two crucial steadiers in the last quarter.

The versatile utility had been playing defensive roles for the Bulldogs in 2013 but relished the opportunity to spend most of Sunday’s win up forward or on the ball.

After starting the season in hot form, Dogs’ spearhead Mark Re was well held in the first half by Scott Delmenico and even spent time in defence.

He finished with one goal.

Hard-working midfielder Liam Davis got plenty of the ball for Bunbury while Jesse Gribble was prominent and Liam McGuire did some good things.

With his side staring down the barrel at half-time, Delmenico sparked a HBL revival when swung into the ruck after the long break.

He gave the Lions first use and it showed as the visitors opened the third term with three quick goals two of them classy snaps from Cam Bennell.

John Klumpp was driving the visitors forward while Jarrad Watson, Travis Obal and Lukas Teague also got involved.

When Watson kicked truly from point-blank range after a 50m penalty, the margin was back to 20 points and HBL were within striking distance.

Despite kicking the first goal of the last term, the Lions could not find the quick strikes they needed to complete the comeback in the end-to-end final quarter.

The victory provided sweet relief for the highly-rated Bulldogs, who responded after heavy losses to Carey Park and Augusta-Margaret River in rounds one and two.

Bunbury set up the triumph when they jumped the Lions in the opening quarter to lead by 21 points at the first change.

The visitors rallied in the second term but Bunbury booted the final four goals of the quarter and were in complete control at half-time, holding a 43-point lead.

Scoreboard

Bunbury 3.5 11.6 12.9 15.10 100 def Harv-Bruns-Lesch 0.2 4.5 8.7 10.9 69

Goals:

BUNBURY – J. Adamson-Holmes 4, B. Broadhurst, C. Hay 2, J. Gribble, T. Langridge, S. Miles, K. Watts, L. McGuire, R. Hutchinson, M. Re.

HBL – C. Bennell 3, L. Spaanderman 2, J. Watson, T. Obal, J. Klumpp, C. Strano, D. Newman.

Best:

BUNBURY – L. Davis, J. Gribble, J. Adamson-Holmes, J. Gribble, G. Byrne, L. McGuire.

HBL – S. Delmenico, J. Klumpp, J. Watson, T. Obal, L. Spaanderman, L. Teague.