Bulls hold on for gritty win over Pies on the road

The Harvey Bulls needed just two goals to get past Busselton in Saturday afternoon’s women’s clash, snapping a three-game losing streak in the process. The game, played in trying conditions which made ball movement difficult and marks few and far between, finished with just seven scoring shots as the Bulls won 2.1 (13) to 1.3 (9). The Magpies had the best of the opening term and could have put themselves out to an early lead after a series of repeat inside 50s, but managed just two behinds before Megan Minton opened the goal-scoring for the Bulls against the run of play. It would take the Magpies a quarter and a half to score again, by which time Minton had kicked a second to put the visitors out to a game-high 10-point lead. Alexis Martin kicked Busselton’s first major in the third term, which made for a scrappy final term as the midfield groups fought for field position. Despite the huge midfield effort of Beth Beckett, who was dominant in the final term and some courageous efforts by Shelby Atherton, the Magpies had the majority of territory but couldn’t find what would have been a game-winning goal. The win is the Bulls’ second for the year, after taking the points from a Carey Park forfeit in round one before losing to South Bunbury, Bunbury and Donnybrook. It leaves last year’s preliminary finalists in sixth position, equal on points with Donnybrook, who sit fourth.