SEYMOUR will turn for the second half of the Goulburn Valley Football League season in the top six by a game, thanks to a 34-point victory over Benalla at Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
With the weather seemingly clearing up slightly, it was a competitive, high-scoring opening term.
Jack Murphy hit the scoreboard first for the Lions, and this would be a pattern for the day which would see him lead from the front.
Further goals from Dylan Scopel and Lucas Cavigan gave the Lions an early 11-point lead, before the Saints kicked two of the last three goals of the term, only broken up through Nathan Fowler, to leave Seymour leading by four points at the first change, 25-21.
Seymour would get off to a fabulous start as the second quarter got underway, with goals to Fowler and William Le Deux giving the Lions a 16-point cushion.
After a holding pattern, it was the final term which helped the Lions really clear away, with late goals to Murphy, Jack Giles and Samuel House giving Seymour a convincing 56-29 lead as the main break arrived.
The third quarter, however, seemed to belong to Benalla early on as they made a big push to get back into the game.
Luckily for Seymour, the Saints weren’t able to put together some excellent opportunities, instead kicking four behinds.
Notwithstanding, the Saints were also able to add two goals to leave the margin sitting at 11 points midway through the term.
Luckily, the Lions had a response, and it was Lewis Lubeck who provided a spark by kicking a goal to give his teammates a boost, before Rory Kennedy added another moments later, with the Lions back out by 23 points.
Benalla kept putting the pressure on, and did add another goal to keep asking questions at the final change, with Seymour leading 70-52.
The Lions had a reprieve while Benalla made its final challenge, with rain starting to fall as the Saints kept attacking.
It was Kennedy who put the final touches on the afternoon for the Lions, kicking the sealer, before adding a second late on for good measure.
Lubeck added another goal late to make it a big win for the Lions, who kicked 14.6 (90) to 7.14 (56).
Coupled with Shepparton’s 20-point loss to Mansfield, the Lions departed the Kings Park field one game clear inside the top six.
Murphy put in an excellent performance, and was a deserved best-on-ground, while Scopel, Nathan Beattie, Fowler and Lachlan Beattie provided good support.
Kennedy’s aforementioned three goals led the way for the Lions, while Murphy, Lubeck and Fowler added two each.
The Lions have a huge challenge as it turns for the second half of the season, hosting second-placed Rochester at Kings Park next week.
