Lakes Entrance’s under 13s have tasted defeat for the first time during round 11 of the East Gippsland Junior Football Association, losing a close and enthralling match to Lindenow at the Lakeside Oval by a solitary point.
As good as the Cats were in victory, the Seagulls were left to rue missed opportunities in front of goals, the 10 behinds next to four goals in the end being the difference between victory and defeat.
The fifth-ranked Lindenow took the game right up to their unbeaten opponents right from the start, kicking two goals straight in the first term, opening up a four-point gap at the first change.
An unanswered second term goal to the Seagulls saw the scores all tied up at half time, with many thinking that Lakes’ class might see it dominant the second half, but the surge never came.
The third term was willing with Lakes Entrance getting more chances inside the forward 50, but unable to convert both sides kicking a major, the Seagulls’ mounting behinds increasing their advantage to four points at three quarter time.
With the game on the line, it was Lindenow who had all the answers in the final term. With their season on the line the Cats finished with two goals to one in the final term, holding on grimly late to win by one point.
Lakes was left to think about the one that got away, hoping that it was it had to have on the way to a premiership tilt.
Among the best for the Seagulls were Keanu Brown, Patrick McGinty, Makayla Sowden, Archer Peel, Oliver Jenkins and Jake Christison.
It was a happier story in the under 15’s, with six unanswered first quarter goals, setting the Seagulls on the way to another impressive win, this time by 38 points.
Lakes sit second on the ladder, behind the unbeaten Wy Yung, the Seagulls having recorded eight wins from nine matches.
Kye Piper (four goals), Tayte Gibbs (four) and Jeremy Rotheram (three) raffled it up forward as the Seagulls cruised to victory.
Cooper Anderson, Lachlan Ymer, Isaac Zagami, Gibbs, Rotheram and Archer Connally all standouts for Lakes Entrance.
With the EGJFA in recess for the school holidays, the Seagulls’ next match will be on July 20, when it welcomes the Bairnsdale Redlegs to the Lakeside Oval.
