Wise heads lead way in Bulls win

Mt Barker passed a significant test of their depth to keep their hopes of a finals double chance alive, producing an impressive second half to down Royals by 33 points at Sounness Park on Saturday.

The Bulls entered the match without key forwards Kym Monteath and Daniel Parker, full-back Adam Tissott and rebound defender Tyron Miller, but showed little signs of missing the key quartet after quarter-time.

After trailing by 22 points at the first break following a rampant opening stanza from the Lions, the Bulls kept the visitors goalless after half-time on their way to a seventh win of the season, 14.7 (91) to 8.10 (58). The Bulls added 13 goals to three after quarter-time, with the win engineered by former skipper Sam Lehmann and current captain Peter Taylor, who both returned to the side after missing the 99-point shellacking to North Albany in the previous round.

Lehmann wound back the clock in a vintage performance at centre half-forward while the return of Taylor and veteran midfielder Nic Chidgzey gave the Bulls the midfield ascendency.

Jack Horrocks booted his second goal on the three-quarter-time siren to edge the Bulls clear by nine points before the home side kicked the only four goals of the final term.

With the absence of notably Monteath, small forward John Lee produced his best game since returning this season from a knee reconstruction, booting four goals, while Dionne Woods also added four goals.

Defender Brayden Parker and young midfielder Cent Amores were the Lions’ best while Shayden Worth booted three goals, all in the first half when the visitors were on song.

The victory keeps the Bulls a win behind the second-placed Kangas with four games remaining while Royals’ grip on fourth place was loosened after their second half fadeout.