Gallery: Bulldogs win grand final rematch

Reigning premiers Bunbury continued their surge towards back-to-back flags with a hard-fought 14-point win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault at Payne Park on Sunday.

The Bulldogs dominated the first half, before the Lions fought back in the third quarter, but a strong last term from the home side saw them grab a 8.6 (54) to 5.10 (40) victory.

Bunbury shed the shackles of their second half woes to finish strong, climbing over the top of the Lions after sharing the spoils midway through the third term.

The Lions launched an early attack with gun utility Dave Newman taking a spectacular diving mark in a pocket to start the game, but he watched on in horror as his shot drifted wide of the big sticks for a behind.

It took 20 minutes for the first major to be scored, with Bulldog Ben Frazer soccering a shot through from close range to spark an entertaining five minutes.

Frazer’s goal was matched by two more in the next four minutes, with Newman making amends for his earlier miss with a goal, before Bunbury’s Travis Justins gave the home team the edge at quarter time.

The tight game continued with a midfield arm-wrestle until Trent Gribble goaled at the 12-minute mark of the second term to once again set up a flurry of action.

Bunbury forward Brett Peake was on target with a superb snap over his shoulder, before Lions youngster Zaine Williams kicked his first goal.

Mark Longbottom gave the Bulldogs the buffer with a long set shot from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs were collared with a couple of goals from Ben Busslinger to start the third term, before Lions’ vice-captain Braden Prentice added another as the Lions had their noses in front by four points.

Midway through the third quarter Brad Blake booted truly to level the scores and from then on it was all the home team.

The fourth term began with Peake being gifted a goal thanks to a 50m penalty before Tyson Wood iced the game with a goal.

More pictures from the game:

Scoreboard

Bunbury 2.3 5.3 6.5 8.6 (54) def Harv-Bruns-Lesch 1.2 2.3 5.10 5.10 (40)

GOALS:

Bunbury - B. Peake 2, B. Blake, M. Longbottom, T. Justins, T. Wood, B. Frazer, T. Gribble. Harv-Bruns-Lesch - B. Busslinger 2, B. Prentice, Z. Williams, D. Newman.

BEST:

Bunbury - M. Longbottom, J. Gribble, B. Blake, J. Gribble, C. Hay, T. Wood, T. Justins. Harv-Bruns-Lesch - J. Fenwick, M. Andrews, J. Quinn, J. Watson, T. Anderson, M. Fenwick