A blistering first half helped the Dubbo FC Bulls claim a scintillating 3-0 win over Orana Spurs at Lady Cutler Oval on Sunday afternoon, and their sixth Dubbo and District Football A grade premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The underdog title suited the Bulls, who finished third at the end of the regular season with an 8-6 win-loss record.
But they peaked in the finals to win three in a row when it mattered most.
Read also
“Being underdogs in a final for the first time worked, and it had the opposite effect on Spurs,” captain Scott Fox said.
“It definitely … takes the pressure off and makes you a bit hungry to win … and we had a good crowd there behind us that motivated us to do well.”
The Bulls came out firing but were unable to convert their chances until the 20 minute mark when a long throw – a set piece – fell perfectly at Brody Austin’s feet and Austin put on the finishing touches.
The lead was extended a short time later, although not in the fashion the Bulls had expected.
Spurs conceded a penalty inside the 18-yard box, but Gareth Williams was unable to convert the chance.
Instead, Alex Richardson-Bell pounced on the rebound and sent it thundering past Spurs’ keeper Bailey Delaney to make it 2-0.
After the break the Richardson-Bell converted another Williams effort, the latter “pinching the ball” from a defender and squaring it across to his winger who was one-on-one with the keeper.
Spurs never gave up, and they gained some ascendancy in the latter stages as the Bulls began to tire.
But the damage was done. The Bulls were able to hold out their physical, young rivals, largely thanks to David Lindenbauer, who was resolute in goal despite a rib injury.
Centre-midfielder Kobe Rapley was named man of the match, closely followed by James Leonard who stepped into the role of centre-back after injuries ravaged the Bulls back line.
“Especially in the second half, when our legs were a bit tired, we were getting peppered in the last 20 minutes but he [Lindenbauer] repelled everything that came near him,” Fox said, adding it was nice to get a win for the old boys in attendance.
“It was just about taking our chances … we’ve played some of the best football we’ve ever played this year but just haven’t won.
“We’ve been on the other side of it too in a couple of grand finals so it was good to be on the winning side.”
