Football: Bulldogs survive Bulls' scare

Bunbury held off a fast-finishing Harvey Bulls to claim its third scalp of the season at Payne Park on Sunday, winning 12.10 (82) to 10.11 (71).

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 33-point lead at half-time but the Bulls came charging back in the third quarter, when they outscored the home team five goals to two.

Bunbury came to life midway through the last quarter, booting goals at crucial times to steady the ship just as it looked like the visitors might snatch the win.

Bunbury recorded the first goal through Trent Gribble and then hit its stride, kicking three more while holding Harvey goalless to quarter time.

Powerful Bulls’ forward Greg Sanders broke free of the shackles of Bulldog defender Riley Hutchinson to kick a pair of second quarter goals, but the home team hit back with three of its own, including two to Jordan Adamson- Holmes, for a commanding lead.

A determined Harvey exploded out of the blocks in the second half and although Liam McGuire kicked the first goal of the term against the run of play, the visitors reeled off five unanswered majors before Bunbury broke the run.

Brandon Jetta was especially lively for the Bulls, kicking two in the third before unselfishly setting up his brother Aaron for the first goal of the last quarter to cut the deficit to just seven.

Bunbury captain Jesse Gribble stepped up with a booming goal from the boundary before the Bulls kicked four behinds in a row.

But just when it looked like Harvey was destined to break through, Adamson-Holmes took a huge pack mark and kicked a steadier and Marc Re added another from the restart to see their team home.

The result means Bunbury holds on to seventh place while the Bulls remain last.

Scoreboard

Bunbury 4.3 7.7 9.8 12.10 82 def Harvey Bulls 0.4 2.4 7.7 10.11 71

Goals:

BUNBURY — J. Adamson-Holmes 3, M. Re, C. Garlett, J. Gribble 2, L. McGuire, M. Blake, R. Sheehan.

HARVEY BULLS — B. Jetta 3, G. Sanders 2, R. Mooney, D. Faulkner, R. Riddoch, A. Jetta, D. Davis.

Best:

BUNBURY – C. Boyd, M. Re, J. Gribble, L. McGuire, M. Whitbread, H. Walker.

HARVEY BULLS — G. Sanders, R. Riddoch, M. Cherubino, B. Jetta, D. Davis, D. Miller.