Sport
4 July, 2026
Pressure pile: Bulls rampant
The Bulls had their best win for the season, beating Calder United at Nullawil by 11 points, reversing the result in last year’s grand final.
BIRCHIP Watchem has piled on the pressure in the chase for fourth spot on the North Central ladder.
The Bulls had their best win for the season, beating Calder United at Nullawil by 11 points, reversing the result in last year’s grand final.
Victory came on the back of a four-goal third quarter in which Birchip Watchem held the Lions to only two behinds.
Wedderburn and Sea Lake Nandaly are unchallenged on top, but the Bulls have now moved to only two points and percentage behind Calder.
St Arnaud leads the chasing pack, two points and a hefty 25 per cent behind the Bulls, with Boort a further game away.
Birchip Watchem turned a half-time 10-point deficit into a 16-point lead at the last change and then had to withstand a final quarter charge from Calder.
The Lions had all the momentum when they closed to within three points when Justin Laird goaled almost 10 minutes into the last term.
But Mayrick Buchanan, who had starred for the Bulls all day, then kicked two of his four goals to return the gap to 16 points before Calder ruckman Dean Putt kicked the last goal of the game.
Laird booted three for Calder to be among the best for the Lions, who were missing top goalkicker Steve Stroobants.
After this week’s fourth and final bye round, Birchip Watchem has the unenviable task of toppling unbeaten Wedderburn at Donaldson Park, while Calder travels to Boort in what shapes as a last throw of the dice for the Magpies’ finals hopes.
Read More: Birchip