It was all smiles at Lakeside Oval last Saturday as Lakes Entrance completed a clean sweep over Paynesville in round 13 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League.
The ladder-leading thirds recorded their ninth consecutive victory, cruising to a staggering 213-point win while keeping the Gulls scoreless in a ruthless exhibition.
Lakes set the tone early with 10 unanswered first-quarter goals to hold a 64-point lead at the opening change.
Paynesville offered spirited resistance in the second term, restricting Lakes to three goals as the margin crept past 100 points by the main break. However, the Seagulls regained momentum in the second half, piling on another 17 goals to seal the victory.
The Seagulls shared the workload with 11 individual goalscorers. Zane Holley and Oscar Hopkins led the charge with five goals apiece, while Xavier Radley and Mason Radley slotted four each. Jordan Van Dam and Thomas Graham snared three goals each, with skipper Harrison Bennett and Lachlan Ymer booting two apiece.
Best players for the thirds were Charlie Forrester, Pepper, Zane Holley, Lachlan Ymer, Kye Piper and Cooper Anderson.
In the reserves, Lakes Entrance maintained second spot on the ladder — having lost just two matches this season, both to reigning premier Boisdale-Briagolong — after securing a 122-point victory over Paynesville.
The Seagulls bolted out of the blocks with seven unanswered opening-term majors to build a 47-point lead. The second quarter developed into a tight contest, with Paynesville kicking their only goal of the match while restricting Lakes to two.
The home side reasserted control in the second half, led by spearhead Noah Bottom, who kicked seven goals to take his season tally to 72. With three home-and-away matches remaining, Bottom remains on track to push toward a century of goals during the finals campaign.
Tyrone Hayes chipped in with three goals, while co-captain Jack Reggardo kicked two.
Ben Cameron and Sam East led the way for the Seagulls, with East continuing a rich vein of form. Michael Sowden, Logan Brown, Charlie Goold and James Daly were also prominent among the best players.
Lakes Entrance will travel down the highway this Saturday to face Stratford at Boyd Reserve.
