There were mixed results for Lakes Entrance in the East Gippsland Junior Football Association preliminary finals at the Bairnsdale City Oval last Sunday with the under 15s winning through to the grand final, while the under 13s went down narrowly.
The under 15s suffered just their second defeat of the season when they went down
to Wy Yung in qualifying final a week prior, but they quickly bounced back trouncing Lindenow by 147 points, the Cats failing to kick a goal.
Evan Pompei kicked an impressive five goals, with Kye Piper, Jeremy Rotheram and Billy Warfe all rising to the occasion slotting four each.
Good players were plentiful but the coaching panel settled on Archer Connally, Rotheram, Pompei, Warfe, Lachlan Ymer and Clarke.
Orbost Snowy Rovers progressed to grand final in the under 13s, scoring an upset win over the Seagulls.
The sides had played twice during the season, the Seagulls winners by 30 and 18 points, but that didn’t deter the Orbost youngsters who never took a backward step, taking the contest right up to the side that only lost one match in the home and away season.
A late goal gave Orbost a goal advantage at quarter time, which they maintain at the long break, as both sides saw plenty of the football, with the game mainly played between the arcs.
Lakes Entrance played its best football of the match in the premiership quarter, starting the third term in a blaze of glory as it kicked three goals to one, opening up an eight-point advantage at the final break.
But the gallant and determined Blues weren’t done, thrilling their supporters with a final quarter three-goal to one onslaught to seize victory by five points in a thrilling finale.
Among the best for Lakes Entrance were Keanu Brown, Cooper Kennedy (two goals), Sunny Eiseman (two), Reide Ymer, Patrick McGinty and Oliver Jenkins.
All roads will lead to the Bairnsdale City Oval this Sunday where the Seagulls will take on Wy Yung for the fourth time for the season in the under 15 grand final from 2.30pm.
The Tigers will go in with an air of confidence, holding a 2-1 advantage thus far, but the Seagulls will be buoyed by the fact that they have got the job done previously.
The Lakes Entrance under 11s will be playing an exhibition match against Orbost Snowy Rovers from 11.40am.
