The Dragons had 11 more inside 50s (53-42); 14 more stoppage clearances (29-15); and five more centre clearances (16-11).

But the Dragons couldn’t convert those numbers into where it matters most as the Bulldogs held firm to win by five points, 12.8 (80) to 11.9 (75) at MyJet Oval.

“We wanted to force some accountability into the game and make it an old-fashioned one-on-one contest,” Golden Square coach Nick Carter said.

“For most of the game, that was the case and in a low-scoring game, you need to take your opportunities and I thought we did that well today. I was happy with the overall effort.”

It was a game that promised plenty between two top-three sides that both went into it 6-1, and while it may not have reached any great heights as a spectacle, it delivered as a contest.

While the final margin was five points, twice throughout the game it had been far more comfortable for Golden Square, but the Bulldogs couldn’t shake off the Dragons.

The Bulldogs opened up a match-high 25-point lead 10 minutes into the third quarter that was built on the back of a run of five consecutive goals - the last three of the second term through Ryan Herring, James Sullivan and Jacob Greenwood, and the first two of the third through David Symons and Corey Jones.

For only the second time this season - the other being round one against Strathfieldsaye - the Dragons were being dictated to on the scoreboard, but they hit back.

In a five-minute burst, three goals in a row to midfielders Lee Coghlan, Nick Stagg and Alex Pollock had the margin back to six points.

But Herring’s third goal of the game in time-on gave the Bulldogs a 12-point advantage heading into the last term, 10.6 to 8.6.

That lead was extended to 18 points three minutes into the final quarter when Square's Travis Baird marked and goaled from 45m.

But just like the third quarter, the Dragons responded again when the scoreboard was threatening.

The Dragons reduced the deficit to three points with goals to Stagg and Joel Wharton, while a 50m shot from the flank from Pollock had also looked to be sailing through, only to be touched on the line.

With the Dragons pressing hard, Jones - who got through his first game of the season unscathed - stemmed the tide for the Bulldogs with a sensational 50m set-shot from the flank that again gave Square some breathing space.

But again, the Bulldogs couldn’t kill off the Dragons, who closed back within three points when captain Blair Holmes goaled on the run from 50m.

At that stage there were still seven minutes left in the contest, but it was to be the final goal, with Square having the last two scores of the match - behinds to Herring and Baird - while defending staunchly to deny the Dragons.

Golden Square’s backline led by the in-form Brayden Dorrington, Clayton Anderson, Jon Coe and Dale Young was superb in limiting the normally free-scoring Dragons to just 11 goals from 53 inside-50 entries.

The defence was aided by the pressure from the midfield, who rarely allowed the Dragons any slick delivery inside 50.

The best for the Bulldogs featured defenders Coe, Dorrington and Anderson, along with skipper Simon Rosa through the midfield, Sullivan (two goals) and Tom Toma, who ran with Lee Coghlan.

For Sandhurst, the strong-marking Lachlan Ross continued his outstanding season, starting up forward before shifting to defence and rebounding well.

Wharton was again at his opportunist best, kicking four goals - three of them with a touch of class.

Onballers Stagg, Pollock and the bullocking Adam Parry were also among the better players for the Dragons, who lost at Golden Square for the first time since 2011.

“Golden Square had more players prepared to run defensively and get numbers back to support,” Sandhurst coach Brett Fitzpatrick said.

“Square was good with their pressure and deserved their win."

Sandhurst’s Mitch Dole was carried off by trainers in the last quarter with a knee concern that Fitzpatrick said wasn’t serious, but would likely cost him some time on the sidelines.

GOLDEN SQUARE V SANDHURST: PHOTOS