Despite a strong first half, and remaining just a goal down at three-quarter time, the Lions were unable to match the Murray Bombers in the final term, going down 40-48 to possess a 4-3 record at the league-wide break.
Heading into the clash, Echuca had dropped just one contest for the season and looked a formidable prospect for the Lions on paper.
But it was a goal-for-goal start to the fixture as both sides enjoyed a taste of the lead early, before Seymour made the first run of the game, scoring five consecutive goals to go ahead 13-8 after Echuca had drawn back to level pegging.
The visitor finished the term off with the final two goals, but it was the Lions that led 13-10 at the first break and looked more than up for the task against the top-four side.
Predictably, Echuca made a move at the start of the second quarter, closing back within one early, but the Lions were able to reply almost immediately to extend the margin back out to four goals.
The Murray Bimbers continued to challenge throughout the second quarter. While they did manage to tie the scores at 23 apiece, Seymour was able to fend them off once more, scoring the final two goals before half-time to enjoy a 25-23 advantage.
It was an enthralling contest, and one which continued in the third term, with Echuca still surging, but the Lions refused to yield.
Just as they had done in the second quarter, the Murray Bombers tied things up with three of the first four goals of the second half, but a stubborn Seymour didn’t allow them to take the lead, firing back out to a two-goal advantage. But while there was some back and forth from there, eventually the stiff resistance was broken.
Six of the last nine goals of the third term the way of Echuca meant it assumed the advantage at the final break, ahead 34-33, as Seymour trailed to start a quarter for the first time all afternoon.
Also for the first time all afternoon, the intensity with which the Lions played wavered too as play began in the fourth quarter, with Echuca immediately making its run.
Five unanswered goals saw the visitor out to a six-goal margin, and although the Lions rallied, bringing it back to three goals midway through the quarter, the Murray Bombers had their measure, scoring six of the final seven goals of the contest to close out the eight-goal win and condemn the Lions to a third defeat of the season.
Ruby Martin was named Seymour’s best in the loss, closely followed by Ally Black, with the pair of goalers shooting superbly throughout the contest to ensure the Lions stayed in the hunt for much of the day, while Toni Bootland was also brilliant at the other end, defending bravely against a seasoned Echuca attack.
The loss ensures the Lions drop to sixth on the ladder at the end of round seven with a 4-3 record, trailing fifth-placed Tatura on percentage, having lost to both the top two sides in Euroa and Echuca, as well as reigning premier Shepparton.
While the bye this weekend offers a chance to regroup, the tasks don’t get any easier upon return for the Lions, who will face a road trip to third-placed Mooroopna in round eight, with the two sides set to do battle on May 30.
It proved a tough day on court right across the grades for Seymour, with B-grade also going down 42-45 in a grand final rematch from last season, while B-reserve was the only grade to register a win, snaring a 41-38 victory.
