THE scoring juggernaut that has been Gisborne in 2019 was comprehensively shut down by Golden Square in the BFNL's battle of the Bulldogs at Wade Street on Saturday.

Gisborne had been averaging 37 scoring shots per game leading into the 2^nd v 3^rd clash, but it could muster just 12 as Square led all the way in a 8.16 (64) to 4.8 (32) statement win.

The result leaves both sides with 7-2 records at the halfway mark of the season.

The Gisborne forward duo of Pat McKenna and Jack Scanlon had been averaging eight goals between them per game, but both were blanketed in their match-ups, each kicking just 1.1.

Square coach Bernie Haberman shifted Liam Barrett out of the midfield for the key job on McKenna, whose only goal came from a soccered kick out of a pack in the goalsquare during the third quarter.

And matched up by Will Lee, Scanlon's sole goal came during the final term when the game was well and truly done and dusted when he cleverly check-sided a set-shot after a mark from 40m on the boundary.

"Our backline group was fantastic today and our pressure across the ground was really good," Haberman said.

"We felt if we could keep our full press game it would make it difficult for them to get through to their forwards... our pressure on the ball user both from behind and in front was really good."

Square's best win of the season was given further credence due to the injury setbacks it was forced to overcome.

Key forward Jayden Burke, who kicked the opening goal of the game after a strong contested mark, lasted just seven minutes before injuring his shoulder.

Hard-nut Brayden Dorrington injured a hamstring in the second quarter and Dale Lowry hurt an ankle in the third term.

Gisborne - which had star midfielder Matt Goodyear (ill) a late withdrawal - also has its concerns out of the game, most notably the report of coach Clinton Young.

Young was reported and yellow carded late in the second quarter after colliding into the back of Square's Adam Baird, sparking a melee.

Young - through a mis-communication over time - later returned to the field earlier than permitted during the third quarter and after playing several minutes again had to go back to the bench.

The warning bells were sounding for Gisborne from the outset when Golden Square had seven scoring shots (3.4) to nil on the board by the 14-minute mark of the first term, at which stage the inside-50 count was a lopsided 15-3 the home side's way.

Golden Square went to quarter-time leading 3.4 to 0.1, sparking a fierce spray from Gisborne's Young to his team, which drew a response.

READ MORE - SATURDAY SCOREBOARD - June 15, 2019

Two of Gisborne's first three scoring shots early in the second term to Callum Williamson and Thomas Fraser were a result of holding the ball free-kicks in the forward 50, but both missed.

Square's early impact on the scoreboard proved pivotal in what was a highly-contested game with fierce tackling from both sides.

The tackling pressure was evident in that on a sunny day without any wind, both teams struggled to generate clean entries inside 50 and as such, just five goals were kicked to half-time, at which stage Square led 4.5 to 1.3.

Testament to the outstanding work of the Golden Square defence of Barrett, Lee, Brad Eaton, Jon Coe, Braydon Welsh, Jake Thrum and Zac Shelton, Gisborne's score of 9 was more than 50 points shy of the 63 it had been averaging in first halves in its first eight games.

By match-end Gisborne's final score of 32 was its lowest in its past 51 games.

Square's score of 8.16 was its fourth game in a row kicking more behinds than goals - it now has 46.70 through that period.

Gisborne's 4.8 also continues its recent off-target trend as it kicked more behinds than goals for the third game in a row.

Golden Square won the inside-50 count 56-47, while Gisborne had the better of the centre clearances 9-7.

Golden Square's Sam Brinsmead with two was the game's only multiple goalkicker.

As well as being reported, Gisborne's Young also tweaked a hamstring, while defender Matt Edwards, who had been playing on Square X-factor Alex Marklew, injured a wrist.

"The first 15 minutes were telling. Square really came to play and got on top early," Young said.

"We were able to turn the game back into a contest in the second quarter, but I think we lacked belief in the second half that we could find a way to win."

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