Lakes Entrance’s reserves and thirds teams completed their finals preparations in style, securing impressive victories over Wy Yung last Saturday in the final round of the East Gippsland Football Netball League home and away season.
The reserves finished the season second on the ladder and look to be the primary challenger to undefeated reigning premier, Boisdale Briagolong.
Playing at Bullumwaal Road, the Seagulls claimed a 56-point win over the fourth-placed Tigers. Lakes Entrance held a 21-point buffer at half time after a competitive opening two quarters, before taking full control in the second half by restricting Wy Yung to just one goal while kicking six of their own.
Coach Ben Rotheram led from the front with an outstanding performance, while Jack Cameron, Ben Cameron, Kurt Grabham and ruckman Michael Sowden were all instrumental. Noah Bottom delivered a dominant display up front, kicking nine of Lakes Entrance’s 12 goals to bring his home and away total to 96, just nine behind Boisdale’s Luke Pratt.
The thirds extended their winning streak to 12 matches with a convincing 86-point victory over Wy Yung. Set up by a blistering six-goal-to-one opening term, the Seagulls capped off a formidable season to lock in top spot on the ladder with a 14-1-1 record as the group looks to secure back-to-back premiership success.
Oscar Hopkins was a constant threat in the forward 50 to finish with five goals, Harper Davis chipped in with three, and both Archer Connally and Leroy Hayes managed two each. Davis, Thomas Graham, Harrison Bennett, Kye Piper, Hopkins and Hayes all enter the post-season in peak form.
All roads lead to the Lucknow Recreation Reserve this Saturday for the qualifying finals double-header, where the thirds take on Lindenow at 10.30am before the reserves face off against Boisdale Briagolong at 12.20pm.
