Lions too good for Bulls
![Lions too good for Bulls](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/YA-255129/footy4_19v5sm6-19v5smb.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
A dominant second quarter set up Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault for its 48-point win over the Harvey Bulls in Brunswick on Sunday afternoon.
With both teams out of the race for the finals, pride was the only thing left to play for and it was the Lions who grabbed the four points, winning 15.12 (102) to 8.6 (54).
Both teams fielded 10 players under-21, showing thought for the future and testing the young brigade.
With an obvious play-on at all costs game plan, the Lions ran forward and handballed until they found a free man to get clean possession inside 50.
The Bulls found this difficult to cope with in the second quarter, when HBL kicked four goals to none and broke the game open.
Lions’ forward Ashley Thornton was an excellent leading target all day and provided numerous contests to set up his crumbing players while also kicking four goals.
Half-forward Matt Bicknell could have kicked a bag if it was not for his inaccuracy, kicking 1.4.
Harvey came out after half-time and competed valiantly despite being 37 points down at the main break.
Acting captain Mark Cherubino made an example for all his younger players, creating contests and going hard at the ball any time it was near him.
Without veteran forward Greg Sanders, Toby McNamara was left as the only target inside fifty for the Bulls and he competed strongly despite some terrible delivery from his young midfielders.
The Lions had plenty of run from their young players, with Kaiden Aitken, Zach Piper and Jarrad Watson running hard through the midfield and Logan Hughes excelling off the half-back line.
For the Bulls it was a case of chasing the Lions after the main break and they kept the game interesting kicking six goals to seven in the last half.
Nick Carney and David Faulkner fought hard all day in the centre, but had little support and could not hold off the Lions’ pressure.
Scoreboard
Harv-Bruns-Lesch 4.3 8.4 10.7 15.12 102 def Harvey Bulls 2.0 2.3 4.5 8.6 54
Goals:
LIONS - A. Thornton 4, Z. Piper 2, J. Watson, B. Thornton, T. Obal, M. Joyce, J. Kumpp, M. Bicknell, J. Quinn, K. Aitken, S. Hallsworth.
BULLS - T. McNamara 3, N. Carney, T. Faranda, L. Pope, M. Cherubino, D. Faulkner.
Best:
LIONS - K. Aitken, L. Hughes, Z. Piper, K. Fortescue, J. Watson, J. Klumpp.
BULLS - T. McNamara, N. Carney, M. Cherubino, D. Faulkner, F. Minella, T. Faranda.
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