Boisdale Briagolong moved to the top of the East Gippsland Football Netball League after easily accounting for a gallant and persistent Lakes Entrance by 61 points in round 12 at the Cabbage Patch last Saturday.
The Seagulls made the trip down the highway and through confident of a good showing having tested the Bombers in round four at the Lakeside Oval, going down by just 17 points in a tight and entertaining match.
Boisdale was quickly out of the blocks last Saturday, kicking six goals to two in the first quarter with skipper Jim Reeves (six goals) and veteran forward Cal Egan (four) providing excellent moving targets for the Bomber midfield that were manfully led by Jackson Glenane and Tom Jolly in the absence of star Kel Porter.
Giant ruckman Matt Wilkinson was hugely influential, winning hit outs but importantly creating turnovers and gathering possessions at will, the big fellow putting up a good case for another three votes for the league best and fairest which his name would surely be among the leaders.
The Bombers rammed home another six goals in the second term to put the game out of reach by half time leading by a massive 58 points.
But to their credit the Seagulls didn’t lie down. Led by the Carroll bothers, Liam and Emmett, they rallied hard, matching the Bombers for intensity and scoreboard pressure as both sides kicked five goals in the second half.
Lakes Entrance outscored one of the premiership favourites in the final term as Matt Duggan, Noah Bottom, Matt Pearce and Will Cantrill all impressed, Bottom kicking a superb first quarter goal with a huge solo effort, keeping the ball moving forward before gathering and goaling over his left shoulder from a tight angle.
Bottom, Tom Hudson and coach Ben Rotheram all slotted a couple of goals for the Seagulls.
The victorious Bombers got outstanding service from Wilkinson, Jolly, Reeves, Glenane and tough defenders Billy Marshall and Rhys Johnson.
The Seagulls’ performance, including the tackling intensity and attack on the football, particularly in the second half, indicate a positive performance is on the cards against a formidable foe in Lindenow as they chase their third win for the season this Saturday.
IMAGE: Emmett Carroll was outstanding during Lakes Entrance’s round 12 East Gippsland football loss to Boisdale Briagolong at the Cabbage Patch last Saturday. The Seagulls were blown away in the first half before matching one of the competition’s best sides in the second.
