Lakes Entrance pushed reigning East Gippsland Football Netball League premier Boisdale Briagolong in round nine action at the Cabbage Patch, but a 10-minute lapse early in the third term would prove costly.
The Seagulls made the trip to Boisdale buoyed by the fact they had been competitive in recent weeks and they fancied their chances of limiting the Bombers’ chances of spreading on the tighter ground.
The first quarter was a tight tactical affair as the sides traded goals, nothing separating them at the first change.
Tom Jolly was a distinct target for the Seagulls as Angus McKenzie did hid best to try and limit his run and carry, Lakes Entrance coach Darren Martin trying to stop the dynamic Bomber midfielder’s scoreboard pressure.
“They have four outstanding midfielders – Tom Jolly, Jackson Glenane, Kelvin Porter and Kade Renooy – they are all outstanding by hand and foot, but Jolly is the one who can hurt you with a bag of goals,” Martin said.
Play intensified in the second term as both sides kicked four goals, the Seagulls missing a couple they should have kicked as Josh Piper (three goals) and Sam Brown (three) looked dangerous in the forward 50, which was bolstered this week by the inclusion of Matt Bolleman.
Sam Nickless was having a great game in the ruck, taking the contest right up to Bomber big man Matt Wilkinson, who has been the dominant ruckman in the competition in recent seasons.
Nickless was giving good service to Liam Carroll, Mitch Banner and Brown, while Renooy and Porter were looking dangerous, as was Boisdale skipper Jimmy Reeves, who had a shot after the siren to put his side in front at half time, his long torpedo falling short as the Seagulls led by three points.
The Bombers left the ground frustrated at half time, Reeves having a conference with the umpires before heading off to the sheds.
There was a good vibe in the Seagulls rooms, Martin happy with the “mature” performance in the first half, asking for increased accountability on Porter who was slipping out the back way too easily.
Lakes had two early chances to score in the third term, both near misses, but they paid dearly, the first a clever snap from Reeves, then when he gave to Renooy they had two in three minutes.
Jolly goaled shortly after and when Reeves was felled the Bombers were 20 points in front and the quarter was just 10 minutes old.
To their credit, the Seagulls never relented, going back to their game plan, maintaining the pressure, but the Bombers were able to maintain that margin for the rest of the afternoon, winning by 19 points.
Reeves finished with eight goals in a best-on-ground performance, ably supported by Ryan Marshall, Porter, Jolly, Shaquille Coridas and Wilkinson.
Nickless was a standout for Lakes, joined in the best by Carroll, Smith, Max Stevens, McKenzie and Jordan Clarke.
Martin was pleased with the effort, but was disappointed his side isn’t playing to its full potential yet.
“Again we lapsed for the 15 minutes which cost us against Stratford and Wy Yung as well. We will learn and continue to get better,” Martin said.
That wasn’t the only pleasing aspect for the Seagulls.
“We kicked 100 points and lost, that will win you the game most weeks,” Martin said.
The matches don’t get any easier for the Seagulls who will welcome unbeaten Lucknow to the Lakeside Oval this Saturday, but in a huge plus Lakes will welcome back key spearhead Tom Hudson from a back injury which restricted his output late last season and has made him unavailable until now.
