Sam Lehmann and Zach Jackson star to guide Mt Barker to snap nine-game losing steak against Royals

Mt Barker have beaten Royals for the first time since 2018 after a superb first half was the catalyst for their fourth win of this year’s Great Southern Football League competition. The 17-point win carried extra significance for the Bulls, snapping a nine-game losing streak and the first time they have beaten the Lions at Retravision Stadium, formerly Centennial Oval, since June 2018. Veteran Sam Lehmann was part of the last team to win on the road against the Lions and he starred with six goals as the Bulls moved to second place on the GSFL ladder. It was a tale of two halves as the Bulls made use of the dry conditions in the opening half, kicking seven goals to the Lions two before heavy rain and strong winds turned the last half into a scrappy affair. Lehmann was outstanding as the Bulls key forward, kicking five of his six goals in the first half, while Zach Jackson continued his brilliant first season in the GSFL. The Lions kicked the final three goals but the damage was already done, as they fell to a second loss of the season, 5.16 (46) to 9.9 (63). Lehmann kicked the first two goals of the game and had three by quarter-time as the visitors led by 20 points. The Lions had ample opportunities to reduce the deficit early in the second, peppering the ball inside 50 but only managed five behinds. Ryan Lazar hit the post for the Lions and the Bulls took the ball to the other end where Keegan Berry slotted a goal on the run to take it back to 21 points. At the 24-minute mark, Chandler Askevold-McDonald kicked the Lions second of the match but Lehmann had a fourth as the Bulls responded immediately. Lehmann marked deep in the forward pocket and was tucked up against the boundary line as the half-time siren blew and he slotted a wonderful set shot to take his tally to five and hand the Bulls a significant 27-point buffer. The Bulls kicked the first two goals of the third term to effectively end the contest, as the rain tumbled down. The margin grew to 35 points at the final change and despite a goal to Lazar and Coel Hunter in the last, the Bulls prevailed. Bulls’ Steven Scott and Lions’ Corey Linthorne were yellow-carded in the final term and then youngster Camball McMahon received a yellow card soon after, leaving the Bulls with one on the bench after Seb Ballard didn’t feature after half-time with a neck problem. Lehmann’s six goals were superb while midfield star Zach Jackson was everywhere for the winners. Joel Gray and the Price brothers, Josh and Scott, gave the visitors plenty of drive while defenders Darcy Wallinger and Mitch Jackson played important roles. “We knew the rain was coming at 4pm so we set a target to get off to a fast start and take advantage of the dry weather,” Bulls coach David Johnson said. “That good first half set us up for what we thought was going to be an ordinary second half. “The boys played very well, we got enough midfield drive and the boys can’t remember when they last beat Royals on their deck so it’s a pretty good win for us.” The Lions were left to rue their slow start but were well served by hard-running wingman Joel Flick, Askevold-McDonald and Zak Mola while young pair Ben Altus and Saxon Henrickson were also impressive. “They just jumped us, that first quarter we didn’t come to play,” Lions coach Andrew Ruck said. “We missed some tackles, few fumbles and all of a sudden we were three goals down. “In the second quarter we had all the play and couldn’t buy a goal and that last goal on half-time from Sammy just cooked us. “It was good of the boys to hang in there and if we had of kicked one more in the last it would have made things interesting.”