Lakes Entrance’s senior finals hopes are gone.
The Seagulls went down to Stratford last Saturday at home by 51 points, effectively ending their chances off a last bid finals dig.
Mathematically Lakes can still make it, however it is three wins off fourth-placed Lucknow with just four games remaining, which includes a tough run home against Lindenow, Orbost Snowy, Wy Yung and Stratford in the final round.
Lakes knew the pressure was on and needed to get off to flyer. The Seagulls started the better of the two sides with Andrew Stevens dominating deep in attack. The key forward had three goals to his name by the first change with Lakes leading by seven points.
Both teams were attacking the ball with ferocity with the Seagulls cleaner by foot in the opening stanza.
Stratford responded immediately after the first break with Clinton Gartung running into an open goal and with Josh Kiss starting to look dangerous out of the goalsquare, the Swans threatened to blow the game open.
Their job was made easier when Stevens went down with a knee injury midway through the second quarter for Lakes, leaving the home side’s forward half without a tall target.
Graham Sellings was in the thick of the action, however he was more suited to the small man forward role.
At the half, Stratford gained the advantage, leading by eight points and was set to unleash after the long break with the Seagulls undermanned.
Lakes was without Stevens, Jake Le Maitre and Luke Reggardo after half time, all injured, and it meant a lack of rotations for a side in a must-win situation.
As Lakes began to tire, Stratford’s fresh legs started to dominate.
Rowan Marsden, Dylan Cartwright, Tye Morrison and Kaine Kerton were ball magnets and delivered to Kiss who was on his way to a six-goal haul.
The writing was on the wall for Lakes at three quarter time, seemingly out of the contest, down by 38 points.
Lakes was quick to reply in the last with Sellings and Crittenden goaling, but everything was falling into place for the Swans.
Kiss converted from everywhere, including a beauty of a set shot from the scoreboard pocket, while a number of teammates joined in on the party.
In the end the Seagulls were blown out of the water, going down by 51 points.
Captain Nathan Pegler had the ball on a string for Lakes, while Kane Thomson provided plenty of support. Sellings was the most focal forward with four majors and was ably supported by Ayden Vogrig in his first senior match of the season.
James Beha was as solid as ever and Brett Campisi held up in the back half.
RESERVES
Lakes Entrance showed Stratford it’s not a one-horse race in reserves action, coming from behind to record a thrilling seven-point win over the ladder leading Swans.
The Seagulls were down by 35 points at quarter time and it looked to be one-way traffic, however Lakes was able to fight back and by three quarter time had taken full control of the battle.
The resurgence was led by Danny Prazza up forward and running onballers Jamie Darcy and Rhys Hubbard who created a number of attacking forays.
Lakes was within 16 points at the long break and some positive words from coach Barry Kenny rubbed off on his charges as they booted five goals to one in third term to lead by 12 points.
The Swans hit back with the wind in the last, however with both teams squandering their opportunities, Lakes was able to hold on for a great seven-point win.
James Lee was terrific in the ruck with Darcy and Hubbard reading his hitouts to perfection, while Stuart Yates was solid across half forward and Ray Burgess was the commander in the back half.
UNDER 18
The under 18s suffered their second defeat of the season at the hands of Stratford, going down to the table toppers by seven points.
The Seagulls had control of the contest for most of the game, however some lapses in concentration and a number of skill errors late, led to a Swans revival and subsequent loss to the Seagulls.
Lakes jumped out of the blocks with goals to Zac Svetlik and Beau Lamanna after some smooth movement of the ball. Lakes led by eight points at the first change, but the Swans hit back in the second with Liam Lemon and Josh Woods looking dangerous.
At half time, the Seagulls held a five-point buffer, however went into the third term with Gary Kramme and Caleb Waites yellow-carded and benched for 15 minutes after a fight erupted after the half time siren.
It didn’t seem to affect the Seagulls though, with Svetlik and Matt Buchanan clunking some big marks deep in attack under immense pressure.
With two key contributors sidelined, their teammates seemed to lift to the challenge and at three quarter time Lakes was in control, leading by two goals.
Stratford wasn’t giving up without a fight and it took it right up to the Seagulls early in the last, eventually breaking them down and running over the top to claim victory.
Lakes was best served by half forward Riley White and defenders Sean Dobson, Kellen Frost and Ash Bennett, while Beau Lamanna won plenty of the ball in the midfield and Ricky Hayward was the best of the forwards.
Last Modified on 02/08/2012 15:36