Narrow escape for Bulls

– Marc McGowan
NOBLE Park’s invincibility was severely tested for the second time this season by Lilydale, as the Bulls escaped with a six-point win in their Division One Eastern Football League encounter at Pat Wright Oval on Saturday.
Noble Park overran Lilydale by five points in round three this season and it was a similar story last weekend.
Lilydale accumulated a six-point lead at the long-break through some inaccurate kicking from the Bulls, after taking the first-quarter honours by a solitary point.
The lead blew out to four goals in the third term and Noble Park looked to be in danger of being defeated for the first time this season.
However the Bulls’ fighting spirit shone through, as they levelled the scores by three-quarter time and managed to hold on for the win – with the six extra scoring shots the difference in the end. Coach Shane Burgmann described it as a very tight and a sensational game to be involved in.
“When your chance came you had to grab it,” he said. “We just got a bit smarter with the football and we started kicking longer, giving our forwards a better chance.”
Lilydale’s performance confirmed the regard that Burgmann held it in before the game.
“My opinion of them went up the first time we played them,” he said. “I think Lilydale and ourselves are fighting for the chance to play Vermont in the grand final. We got Vermont on a good day, so we still have to prove ourselves and we won’t be able to do that until the finals.”