Lakes Entrance’s reserves kept their finals hopes alive with an emphatic 97-point victory over Wy Yung at Bullumwaal Road last Saturday in round 13 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League.
The Seagulls will head into this week’s season defining clash with Lindenow at the Lakeside Oval full of confidence and knowing that losing isn’t an option.
Lakes Entrance currently occupies fifth place on the ladder, trailing the fourth-placed Cats by four points.
Victory to the Seagulls would see them in the top four on Saturday night with three games remaining, while a loss would see them out by two games and requiring something special in the last three matches.
The Tigers needed a win themselves to have any hope of mounting a late charge for finals action, and it never got off the ground, the Seagulls dominating the first term kicking 4.8, with Wy Yung struggling to get the ball inside 50, let alone score.
They didn’t score their first major until the third term, as the Seagulls led by 64 points at half time and 89 points at three quarter time.
The last quarter was at least a contest with the Tigers kicking three goals, but they were still outscored.
Noah Bottom was outstanding up forward for Lakes Entrance kicking 10 goals, while Ben Rotheram and James Daly slotted a couple each.
Bottom is now the leader in the competition goalkicking taking his total to 41, seizing the lead off perennial winner, Boisdale Briagolong’s Danny Pratt who has kicked 39.
Among the better players for the impressive Seagulls were hard nut Matthew Duggan, Bottom, Daly, the hard-running Andrew Hatch, Kaleb Day and experienced defender Jesse Gillam.
Lakes coach Stephen Cole will be hoping that Lakes can continue its winning form this week, redeeming the loss to the Cats in round seven, where Bottom was reported for umpire abuse and the club received a disappointing fine.
