The cold and wet conditions at Kings Park didn’t faze the Lions, who were unrelenting in attack, keeping the foot down in the second half to record a 70-29 victory and boost their percentage significantly enough to leap ahead of Tatura on the ladder.
From the first possession Seymour was well and truly on top, forcing a raft of turnovers in the first quarter that gave Ally Black and Ellie Fuhrmeister opportunities inside the circle, which they converted to go on a 9-0 run to start the game, and led by as much at the first break.
While it wasn’t quite the same dominance they enjoyed in the first, the Lions extended their lead in the second quarter, adding another 17 goals to their total in the face of increased output by Benalla to hold a 29-14 advantage at half-time.
It would be in the second half, however, that Seymour managed to really run away with it, with a five-minute blitz to start the third term yielding an 11-2 run, which became 22-7 for the quarter courtesy of Ruby Martin’s 16 goals, and the lead ballooned to 30 goals in the blink of an eye.
The ruthless Lions kept the frenetic scoring up until the final whistle, with a 19-8 final term ensuring the final margin crept out beyond 40, securing their biggest win of the year, and an important top-up to their percentage.
Lucy Zotti was named Seymour’s best, providing brilliant run and pressure at wing defence, joined by Sarah Szczykulski, who was resolute in defence as has become the norm, while Martin’s efforts at both ends of the court earned her a place among the more influential players also.
The margin of victory could prove pivotal in Seymour’s finals aspirations, with the boost in percentage allowing the Lions to jump Tatura on the ladder, despite both sides sitting with a 6-2-1 record following their draw in round six.
It means at the halfway point of the season the Lions sit third, 1.23 percentage points above the Bulldogs in fourth, but a game clear of Mooroopna and Echuca in fifth and sixth, respectively, while Euroa and Shepparton are runaway leaders at the top, both unbeaten so far.
Seymour will look to continue its strong run of form when it hosts the ninth-placed Rochester this weekend, the first game in a favourable run of five fixtures in which the Lions play only one top-six side.
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