Sport
3 September, 2024
Bulls stampede in to preliminary final
THE Mareeba Bulls gave it everything they had to win the semi-final on Saturday in a 2-0 win against Edge Hill Tigers.
“We did not stop for the full 90 minutes,” captain Adrian Madrid said. “It was great to see.”
The win puts them into the preliminary final against the Leichhardt Lions this Saturday, with the winner taking on top-of-the-table Marlin Coast Rangers in the grand final on 14 September.
In what was an evenly matched clash between the Bulls and the Tigers last week, Mareeba’s Dylan Cummings made the difference, scoring a goal in the first half. The right winger then booted another one into the net in the second half, taking the Bulls to victory.
The team had a setback within the first five minutes when Wayne Srhoj had to leave the field.
“Wayne had a groin injury, and left the match,” Adrian said. “He is a big part of the team. We’re not sure yet how he’ll fair for the final but we’re hoping he’ll be on the bench.”
Replacement Alex Plowman, however, made a seamless entry onto the field and had a “cracker of a game”, he added.
From a shaky beginning in this year’s FQPL Far North & Gulf season, the Bulls came back to win all of their games in the last rounds and continued the form into the finals.
“We probably left our run a little late, but we have found the rhythm and are in tune now,” Adrian said. “We play as one, we know when to press and when to defend and we never stop. You just had to be in the dressing room after the game to see how hard everyone played.”
Going into the preliminary final Adrian said the Bulls know “it’s not going to be easy”.
“There’s no complacency, we’ll just give it our all.”
If the season is anything to go by, it will be a tight contest between the teams. The Lions beat the Bulls 4-2, in round 13, and the Bulls returned the score in Round 19, beating Leichhardt 4-2.
The match will be held at Endeavour Park on Saturday, 7 September, at 6.30pm.
