Building Bulls finish with all the running over Tigers

A wasteful Mt Barker held Railways scoreless in the final quarter to record their fourth victory of the Great Southern Football League season, winning the Belt Up Round clash by 33 points at Sounness Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulls stormed out of the blocks to lead by 13 points at quarter time and dominated the second term, but were left to rue poor kicking in front of goal.

With 14 inside 50s in the second term, the Bulls kicked six points before finally Kym Monteath ended their yips in front of the big sticks with his second major.

The Tigers kicked one goal in the second from only five inside 50s to remain in touch at the long break and they rallied in the third booting three of the first four goals.

After a sloppy Bulls turnover, Tigers recruit Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson put the visitors in front, but only momentarily, as another to the elusive Monteath and youngster Joel Gray gave them a nine-point buffer at three-quarter time.

It was all the Bulls however, in the last stanza as Daniel Parker added a third goal, Nic Chidgzey capped off another busy afternoon with a major and Russell Wynne got involved to help the Bulls stave off their rivals, 12.15 (87) to 8.6 (54).

The Tigers were scoreless in the final term and are counting the cost of the loss with a hamstring injury to player-coach Craig Frost, midfielder Logan Stubber injuring his shoulder and captain Bodhi Stubber suffering a broken jaw.

Stubber came from the field midway through the third term bleeding from the mouth and was later taken to hospital.

No player was reported but the Tigers have lodged a notice of investigation to the GSFL which was confirmed yesterday by league president Joe Burton.

“The league will be investigating the issue, to see if there is anything that needs to be referred to the tribunal,” Burton said.

Corey Byrne was again a dominant force for his new club, and was awarded the match day ball for his efforts while Monteath (four goals) and Peter Taylor were also influential.

“We are building and we are only going to get better as the season goes on,” Bulls coach Shane Thompson said.

“We left the door open and to Railways credit they came back but we ran out the game well.”

Frost lamented his side’s inability to convert inside 50.

“They ran the game out pretty well and obviously we were down to one on the bench,” he said.

“The inside 50s were pretty even but we couldn’t kick goals and their short, chipping game got us in the end.”