GREENSBOROUGH continued its recent dominance over Bundoora with a gritty win over the Bulls in a seesawing clash at War Memorial Park.
Both sides enjoyed dominant patches of play throughout the game, but a four-goal burst in the dying stages of the second term proved pivotal in the Boro’s 15.9 (99) to 11.10 (76) win.
Greensborough forward Josh Grubb ignited the onslaught, threatening inside the forward 50 and slotting two of the four goals to convert a four-point deficit into a 20-point half time lead.
With Rhys Boyden contained by Ben Shelton, Grubb was the focal point for the Boro up forward and finished with a game-high five goals.
Led by Ricky Mullins and Matthew Fowler, Greensborough’s midfield brigade was able to utilise Michael Hooper’s dominance in the ruck and move the ball with speed and precision.
For the Bulls, James Lord stood tall with four goals and a swag of impressive marks in a solid display.
Greensborough remains in first position on the Division 1 ladder with its third successive win, whilst Bundoora continues to cling onto fifth due to fellow five-win sides Eltham and West Preston-Lakeside suffering defeats.
Boro senior coach Ben Turner was satisfied with his side’s ability to control the tempo of the game when it mattered most.
“It was a game of momentum and to finish with the momentum in the end was the most pleasing aspect of the game,” Turner said.
“We were seriously challenged a couple of times during the course of the game and we responded really well.
“Every week is a challenge around the five as it’s such an even competition so we’re just happy to get the win and move on to next week.”
Bundoora showed few signs from last week’s shock loss to Lower Plenty early as it raced out to a 16-point lead on the back of its fanatical pressure.
The Bulls were far hungrier than the Boro early, tackling with intent and thrice saving certain Greensborough goals through desperate lunges on the goal line.
However, the Boro lifted throughout the back half of the quarter and slammed through five unanswered goals to establish a 14-point quarter time advantage.
Greensborough managed to extend its lead to 20 points by half time, but not before withstanding an assault from the Bulls in a fiery second term.
Gary Moorcroft steered home a set shot and Brendan Carlyon kicked truly after Adrian Cataldo’s defensive error to leave the Bulls just two points down.
Further goals to Lord and Ricky Dyson from the goal square ensured the Bulls opened up a handy buffer against a rattled Boro outfit.
Much like the first term, Greensborough responded and rattled off five of the next six goals to take the wind out of Bundoora’s sails.
Greensborough extended the margin in the third term after Grubb and Hooper both goaled, but the Bulls refused to die wondering as Lord kicked two late goals in the shadows of three quarter time to leave Bundoora just 18 points in arrears.
An uplifting goal from Kane Slater inside the opening two minutes of the last stanza gave the Bulls all the momentum, however Greensborough again responded through Grubb to finally kill off the Bundoora challenge.
The Boro will be hoping it can channel its momentum from the win into next week’s game against rivals Montmorency at Para Road, whilst Bundoora is again on the road when it travels to face bottom-placed North Heidelberg at Shelley Street.
Final score: Greensborough 15.9 (99) def Bundoora 11.10 (76)
