In stark contrast to the first encounter between the two sides in round one this season, Seymour pushed Rochester all the way but ultimately was unable to overcome the visiting Tigers outfit, going down 7.3 (45) to 7.12 (54).
Having lost just once so far this season, Rochester rightly headed into the clash as the favourite and wasted little time in asserting itself, booting four majors in the opening term to just one from Seymour to hold an 18-point advantage at the first change.
However, the Lions managed to steady in the second term, matching the Tigers with a pair of goals to remain within touching distance at the main break, 21 points down but well and truly up for the fight in what was turning into a dour, low-scoring affair.
After the break it became clear Seymour was not content with just matching Rochester, with the Lions finding a spark to get on top of the contest and set about reeling in the three-goal margin.
In a stunning third term fightback, the Lions kicked four straight goals while keeping Rochester to just three behinds, setting up a grandstand finish with the scores locked at 44-apiece at the final change of ends.
With all of the momentum heading into the last, it seemed as though Seymour was on the cusp of a knockout blow. However, the arm wrestle produced just one major in the final quarter and the Lions were on the wrong end of it, as Rochester managed to scrap out a win in tough, contested conditions.
Nathan Beattie led from the front for the Lions, racking up 29 touches and laying 10 tackles in another superb performance, while Nathan Fowler (one goal), Seamus Feery (18 disposals, 18 tackles), Tom Jeffrey and Lucas Cavigan were also influential.
Co-coach Jack Murphy continued his scintillating form with 30 disposals and a goal, while Sam Thomson was the lone multiple goal-kicker on the field, slotting two majors.
While no side is ever satisfied with a loss, it is still an encouraging performance from Seymour, which has proven it can contend with the better sides in the competition, and also shows the progress it has made since round one, when it fell to Rochester by 79 points.
The loss has the Lions at 5-5 for the year through 10 rounds, still in sixth place on the ladder, however they face another 9-1 side in Echuca away from home this weekend, the second game in a brutal run of five straight fixtures against the top five sides.
