Travelling to Mansfield Recreation Reserve to take on the Eagles on Saturday, the highly-fancied Lions were given a fright by the plucky home side, which refused to go away late in the contest, but ultimately the class of Seymour prevailed to take a hard-fought 46-42 win.
It was Mansfield that found the first break of the contest, opening the first term with four of the first five goals to take a 4-1 lead, though Seymour soon found its groove with six straight goals amid a wider run that saw the visitors score nine of the next 10 to take a 12-7 lead.
Mansfield closed the margin by a goal before the first break to trail 11-15, but the Lions looked to have all the momentum.
The second term was be an arm wrestle, with neither side managing more than two goals in a row as the ball zipped from one end to the other, and the margin remained steady at the half as Seymour took a 25-21 lead into the main break.
It was more of the same in the third term as Seymour tried to shake the persistent Eagles, managing to widen the gap to six goals at one point. However, it remained goal-for-goal for much of the quarter as Mansfield hung in, trailing by five goals at the final change.
If Seymour expected an easy win, it was sorely mistaken, as the Eagles remained within striking distance and set the fourth term ablaze early, going on their best run of the contest to start the final quarter with five straight goals to tie the score at 36-apiece.
The Lions kicked into gear, responding with the next four to reinstate the buffer, but Mansfield wouldn’t be denied, replying with five of the next seven to move within one again and make things uncomfortable for Seymour.
But the Lions proved a touch too polished in the end, finishing with four of the final five goals to secure a four-goal victory.
Toni Bootland was named Seymour’s best in the win for her work at goal keeper, challenging the Mansfield goalers all afternoon, while Sarah Thorpe was a force through the midcourt and Alyssah Chibnall provided a constant threat inside the shooting circle.
It was far from convincing, but it is four points banked nonetheless, and good enough to keep Seymour, which is still adjusting to a new-look line-up on court, in fourth behind the undefeated sides in Euroa, Echuca and Mooroopna, and ahead of reigning premier Shepparton.
The real test comes this week for the Lions when they host the ladder-leading Magpies, with the 2025 runners-up looking in formidable touch, setting up a barnstorming clash at Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, it was a much more straightforward outing for the Lions’ B-grade side, which romped to its third straight win of the year with a 66-21 demolition of the Eagles to remain atop the ladder. Madi Hager was named best-on-court.
The B-reserve side also remained perfect with a 61-23 victory led by Chloe Locke’s 40 goals, a strong result for the reigning premiers ahead of a grand final rematch with Euroa this week.
The under-17 Lions came away with a 46-46 draw, with Sophie Butterworth named Seymour’s best, while the under-15 side was valiant, putting up its biggest score of the season despite the 18-60 defeat, with Pippa Butterworth earning best-on-court recognition.
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