There was disappointment for both Lakes Entrance sides in the opening weekend of the East Gippsland Junior Football Association finals, going down to Wy Yung in
qualifying finals at the Bairnsdale City Oval last Sunday.
It was only the second defeat of both sides for the season and they will both need to bounce back quickly and win through this Sunday’s preliminary finals, also being played at the Bairnsdale City Oval.
The under 13s were in the hunt right up until the final siren, but will ponder some indifferent goalkicking, which could have been the difference between the two sides.
The margin at all the breaks was in the favour of the Tigers by six points or less, the game was up for grabs in the final term, but it was Wy Yung who held firm, protecting its lead which became pivotal when it got out to the winning margin of seven points.
Seagulls coach Gerard Kennedy wasn’t overly concerned post game, knowing if his side gets it right on the day of the big dance the result will swing back the other way.
The Sowdens were again lively up forward for the Seagulls with John booting three goals and Makayla two, both named in the best players alongside Patrick McGinty, Jack Hayllar, Keanu Brown and Callum Yates.
The under 15s, after a competitive first half where they trailed by just seven points at the main break, were blown away by the Tigers in the third term, Wy Yung kicking three unanswered goals which was a good result for the Seagulls given the sheer number of inside 50s for the term.
Lakes Entrance failed to score in that vital third term, but showed more fight in the final term, despite still being outscored, eventually going down by 36 points.
Thomas Robertson, Cooper Anderson, Ayden Martin, Mitch Ware, Lachlan Ymer and Jeremy Rotheram were named in the better players for the Seagulls with Rotheram the only multiple goalkicker with two.
The under 15s will play Lindenow this Sunday at 2pm, while the under 13s will take on traditional rival, Orbost Snowy Rovers
at 12.30pm.
