Entering the round nine clash against Rochester on Saturday off the back of consecutive defeats, the Lions hit back in a big way, piling on their biggest score of the season so far in the 72-56 win in front of a home crowd at Kings Park.
It took a little while for the Lions to find a break in the game, as it was the Tigers that came out swinging early in the contest, finding the first gap to take an 8-5 lead, before Seymour managed to draw level, then ahead, with the final two goals of the term to lead 18-17 at the quarter-time break.
While Rochester managed three of the first four goals in the second quarter to retake a slender 20-19 lead, the Lions made a decisive move shortly after, firing home eight of the next nine goals to race out to a six-goal advantage.
Things would settle momentarily as the Tigers fought to get themselves back into the game, but a late flurry from Seymour saw six of the last eight goals of the half go the Lions’ way, giving the home side a comfortable 37-28 lead at the main break.
A nine-goal lead became 14 by the final change as Seymour pressed the advantage in the third term, again with a pivotal run that at one stage saw the Lions slot seven of the last eight goals, and leading by a game-high 15 goals briefly.
The game was essentially over as the sides went to the huddles at three-quarter time, with Seymour well and truly in charge of proceedings. However, it didn’t stop the Lions from extending the lead even further in the final term, outscoring Rochester 15-13 to claim the eventual 16-goal victory.
It is a pivotal victory for Seymour in that it improves the Lions’ record to a positive 5-4 at the halfway mark of the season, stopping a run of consecutive losses while also lifting the Lions back into the top six.
Seymour now sits level with fifth-placed Tatura (5-4) through nine rounds, and a game clear of seventh-placed Shepparton United, the Lions’ opponents this Saturday, in a game that could widen the gulf between the top six and the rest.
