Gallant Bombers fall to Lions

A desperate Redland outfit produced some of its best football in over a month but still wasn't quite good enough to get over the Lions at the GABBA on Saturday.

The first half of the first quarter proved costly for the Bombers as the Lions banged on four unanswered goals which left the visitors playing catch up footy for the remainder of the evening.

The game was a high quality affair on the large GABBA surface but will unfortunately been best remembered for a dubious umpiring decision late in the last quarter that saw a free kick and 50m penalty awarded to Travis Johnstone who slotted a goal for the Lions and put the game out of reach of the Bombers who to that point had all the momentum.

In the first half all of the play was with the Lions who used their knowledge of the large deck to their advantage and got on top through the midfield with some handy ruckwork from big men Tippett and Murray coupled with superior clearance work from the likes of harding, Rockliff, Hawsley and Selwood.

The Bombers finally started to wrestle the game back into their favour in the second quarter with strong efforts to Matt Davies, Phil carse, Matt Thomson and Tom Salter while Jason Eagle as always provided a strong target up forward.

In the second half the Bombers came out fired up and kicked the first three goals to get to within striking distance of the Lions only to have the last two goals kicked against the before the final break. Shaun Huy came into the game and Thomson continued to do well around the stoppages.

30 points down at 3qrt time coach Matt Francis fired up the troops and they came out and booted the first three goals to be only 10 points down at the 15 minute mark. White was moved forward by Francis and proved a strong foil to Jason Eagle was was getting double and triple teamed.

Surging forward again a perfect Ryan Pantic tackle was adjudged too high, and Justin Myers, prosuming the umpires whistle could surely only be for holding the ball, played on and was penalised a 50m penalty which gave Travis Johnstone a goal from 45m out.

It was a dissapointing end to the high quality match but importantly apart from the first 10 minutes it was the best the Bombers have performed in the last month and will give the Bombers plenty of confidence heading into the final four matches of the home and away season.

The Bombers travel to Alice Springs this Saturday to take on second placed Northern Territory.

FINAL RESULT:

Brisbane Lions: 5.6 10.11 13.15 15.17 - 107

Redland Bombers: 2.3 5.6 9.8 12.12 - 84

GOALS:

J.Eagle 5, A.Mueller 2, R.Pantic, P.Carse, B.Passfield, J.White, J.Charlesworth

BEST:

M.Davies, J.Eagle, J.White, M.Thomson, S.Huy, P.Carse