Despite showing significant improvement in its round two fixture at the Lakeside Oval against a strong Boisdale-Briagolong combination, the Lakes Entrance reserves were defeated by 10 points.
With one more scoring opportunity in a tight first half, the Seagulls held a one-goal advantage at the main break, but the Bombers have had plenty of success over the past decade at reserves level and they can never be discounted.
They dominated play in the third term, kicking three unanswered goals, opening up a match winning 17-point lead by the final change.
The Seagulls tried hard in a hotly-contested final term, but the Bombers had all the answers hanging on despite Lakes never giving up.
Jesse Gillam kicked two of the Seagulls’ five goals and was named in the best alongside Kaleb Day, Ben Cameron, Charlie Goold, Andrew Rimmer and William Addison.
Gillam has played the past two years with Omeo Football Netball League Club, Bruthen, after being a senior player at Lucknow.
It was a better result in the thirds with the Seagulls running out 21-point victors over the gallant Bombers.
Unbeaten in both assignments in 2025, the young Seagulls currently occupy top spot on the East Gippsland Football Netball ladder.
The Bombers led at quarter and three quarter time, but their seven-point final break advantage was quickly whittled away by the enthusiastic young Seagulls who kicked four final term majors while playing enormous defensively keeping the Bombers scoreless.
Oscar Hopkins backed up his four-goal effort in the opening round with six of the nine in a best-on-ground performance.
He was ably assisted by Harrison Bennett, Blake Thomson, Harper Davis, Bill Prior and Riley Jenkins.
Lakes Entrance will enjoy a bye this week, with the next match on May 10 against Paynesville at AJ Freeman Reserve.
