Bulls, injury ruin South Bunbury’s day

It was a horror day up the highway for South Bunbury, with an injury to key forward Brynn Francis rubbing salt into the wounds of a 26-point loss to the Harvey Bulls at the Harvey Recreation Ground on Sunday.

The Tigers led for three quarters, but the Bulls, who were backed by a strong breeze, kicked five goals in the last quarter to overrun the visitors and win 11.9 (75) to 7.7 (49).

To make matters worse, the club’s leading goalkicker Francis lasted five minutes of the game, hurting his left knee in a contest just moments after kicking the first goal of the match.

Francis played no further part in the game, despite persistent efforts before half-time to run on the injured leg.

The Bulls pulled one of the shock selections of the season, when recently retired captain Josh Krispyn played his first game of the season.

Krispyn lasted until just after half-time, with injury ending his day.

The Tigers looked as if they may have a day out when they kept the Bulls goalless in the first quarter, while kicking three straight themselves on the back of some great play in the centre by Matt Giacci, Craig Hutcheson and ruckman Dale Wilkinson.

Hutcheson was given the job of tagging Harvey midfielder Brendon Jones and despite not being able to stop the former WAFL player’s impact, he did get enough of his own ball to contribute well for the Tigers.

With the breeze at their back the Bulls kicked into gear after the first break and hunted the Tigers all day.

Tremayne Briggs had a stand-out game across half back alongside co-captain Ryan Mooney, while Zetland Marino and Brett Lofthouse took a number of intercept marks to keep the Tigers’ forward at bay. Lofthouse’s battle with South Bunbury forward Leigh Kohlmann was a highlight, with the latter booting three goals, but being beaten one-on-one by Lofthouse on a few occasions.s

Without Francis and with Kohlmann being well held, the Tigers struggled for goals after the main break, kicking just two, while the Bulls spread the load and had eight goal scorers on the day.When South Bunbury’s Josh Ryder made a rare mistake in the backline and handed Jacob Pickett his second goal, momentum had fully swung the Bulls way.

Pickett booted his third shortly after and when teenager Jaxon Egan kicked a couple late the Bulls had claimed a pivotal victory.