Yee-har! The Bulls are back ! Its September, Its sudden death, Its serious.
After a strong performance to get rid of Wenty last week, the Bulls turned the dial to destroy today against Windsor and are through to the Grand Final next week.
The Bulls havent played to their potential all year. In a competition where the standard is well below the old metro cup, theyve been able to get through the regular season playing for half a game here and there to get them to the semis.
Today they played their best football of the season to beat Windsor 28-18 in the Preliminary final at Ringrose. The Bulls will now meet The Entrance in the Grand Final next Sunday at Telstra Stadium. Both grand finalists were the competition front runners for most of the season and, if the Bulls repeat todays form, it should be a great match.
Two weeks ago, the notoriously slow starting Bulls were down 26-0 at half time to Windsor in the SF. Today they scored after 39 seconds to give the large crowd the message that wed be seeing the switched on Bulls today a sight rarely seen since early in the season.
The Bulls got out to 12 nil with two early tries to fullback Dane Gilmore. A spate of penalties got the Wolves back into the game but the Bulls defence was phenomenal. Shackleton, Paiyo and Mostyn were hitting hard and backs Naiqama and Corrie were committed and effective. The Wolves made some mistakes from the pressure and could not breach the defence, despite clever Trindall work getting them a number of repeat sets.
The Bulls were rewarded for the pressure, with Burns picking up a dropped ball and running away to score late in the first half. 16-0 at half time.
Windsor called for the wolf suit and the mascot got the crowd, and the team going: Windsor scored in the first few minutes of the second half to make it 16-6. But the Bulls were able to get back into the swing and build pressure again on the Windsor line. A great play from a penalty in front saw Tippett throw a perfect ball to Naiqama way out wide to score and take the score to 20-6.
The play was then evenly shared between the teams. The Bulls knew they had to keep scoring as the Wolves wouldnt give up. Close to the line and in quick succession, Moffett went from dummy half, then Paiyo, then Moffett again, driving over to make it 26-6. A penalty soon after and it was 28-6 with 13 minutes to go.
The Trickster Trindall was still creating the opportunities for the Wolves and Tito The Tank Niumata never stopped hitting the ball up, often twice in a set (no wonder Doonside had a good year when they were both there in 2002).
The Wolves pressure told and they scored out wide with 12 minutes to go, a great conversion making it 28-12. Only a few minutes later the dangerous Mark Butler scored to make it 28-18. There were real concerns for the Bulls when a great kick through from a scrum by Trindall had Butler winning the chase, but the bounce took the ball the wrong way for the Wolves. The Bulls regrouped and settled and played out the final few minutes for a memorable, truly deserved win.
Trindall, Niumata and Butler were the best for the Wolves. For the Bulls, everyone played close to their best games all year. Burns, Corrie and Naiqama were sensational in defence. Shane Shackleton continued to be the backbone of the Bulls pack and must be on his way to playing at a higher level. Moffett and Tippett were inspirational as always, Grech was solid and surprisingly elusive at times, and Mostyn was dangerous in both attack and defence.
It was a hard game and the Bulls injury toll (not to mention the 2 players on report or the other 2 that cant be picked because of the points system) is a worry for next week. But they are there, which is what matters. If only they were playing at Ringrose again todays result maintained the Bulls perfect 9 out of 9 record there in their 5 year history.
But then again, theyve never lost at Telstra either.
After a strong performance to get rid of Wenty last week, the Bulls turned the dial to destroy today against Windsor and are through to the Grand Final next week.
The Bulls havent played to their potential all year. In a competition where the standard is well below the old metro cup, theyve been able to get through the regular season playing for half a game here and there to get them to the semis.
Today they played their best football of the season to beat Windsor 28-18 in the Preliminary final at Ringrose. The Bulls will now meet The Entrance in the Grand Final next Sunday at Telstra Stadium. Both grand finalists were the competition front runners for most of the season and, if the Bulls repeat todays form, it should be a great match.
Two weeks ago, the notoriously slow starting Bulls were down 26-0 at half time to Windsor in the SF. Today they scored after 39 seconds to give the large crowd the message that wed be seeing the switched on Bulls today a sight rarely seen since early in the season.
The Bulls got out to 12 nil with two early tries to fullback Dane Gilmore. A spate of penalties got the Wolves back into the game but the Bulls defence was phenomenal. Shackleton, Paiyo and Mostyn were hitting hard and backs Naiqama and Corrie were committed and effective. The Wolves made some mistakes from the pressure and could not breach the defence, despite clever Trindall work getting them a number of repeat sets.
The Bulls were rewarded for the pressure, with Burns picking up a dropped ball and running away to score late in the first half. 16-0 at half time.
Windsor called for the wolf suit and the mascot got the crowd, and the team going: Windsor scored in the first few minutes of the second half to make it 16-6. But the Bulls were able to get back into the swing and build pressure again on the Windsor line. A great play from a penalty in front saw Tippett throw a perfect ball to Naiqama way out wide to score and take the score to 20-6.
The play was then evenly shared between the teams. The Bulls knew they had to keep scoring as the Wolves wouldnt give up. Close to the line and in quick succession, Moffett went from dummy half, then Paiyo, then Moffett again, driving over to make it 26-6. A penalty soon after and it was 28-6 with 13 minutes to go.
The Trickster Trindall was still creating the opportunities for the Wolves and Tito The Tank Niumata never stopped hitting the ball up, often twice in a set (no wonder Doonside had a good year when they were both there in 2002).
The Wolves pressure told and they scored out wide with 12 minutes to go, a great conversion making it 28-12. Only a few minutes later the dangerous Mark Butler scored to make it 28-18. There were real concerns for the Bulls when a great kick through from a scrum by Trindall had Butler winning the chase, but the bounce took the ball the wrong way for the Wolves. The Bulls regrouped and settled and played out the final few minutes for a memorable, truly deserved win.
Trindall, Niumata and Butler were the best for the Wolves. For the Bulls, everyone played close to their best games all year. Burns, Corrie and Naiqama were sensational in defence. Shane Shackleton continued to be the backbone of the Bulls pack and must be on his way to playing at a higher level. Moffett and Tippett were inspirational as always, Grech was solid and surprisingly elusive at times, and Mostyn was dangerous in both attack and defence.
It was a hard game and the Bulls injury toll (not to mention the 2 players on report or the other 2 that cant be picked because of the points system) is a worry for next week. But they are there, which is what matters. If only they were playing at Ringrose again todays result maintained the Bulls perfect 9 out of 9 record there in their 5 year history.
But then again, theyve never lost at Telstra either.
