INVERLOCH KONGWAK suffered a handful of outs and blooded young gun Ashton Hewitson for their trip to Koo Wee Rup, a ground where they barely snatched victory last season. 

Despite sitting outside the top six, the hometown Demons came out hard, bashing and crashing at every contest, making it hard for the Sea Eagles to move the ball. 

The host’s intense pressure was soon rewarded as they kicked the first major of the match inside five minutes.

Just as it was for most of the contest, the ball was in hot dispute between the arcs and the high pressure from both sides dried up scoring shots. 

The heat around the contest remained and both sides only managed one goal apiece to end the first term, Koo Wee Rup leading by two points. 

The Sea Eagles started the second quarter hot, creating repeat forward entries and eventually finding Thomas Wyatt for their second of the afternoon. 

The host’s were able to reply soon after with livewire forward Jason Wells getting on the board, booting his first and second goals of the match in quick succession. 

Moments later it was the excitement machine Wells with another, his third, from deep in the pocket in front of the Demons faithful, extending the home side’s lead. 

Needing a fightback to avoid losing touch, the Sea Eagles got it into the hands of the very capable Oscar Toussaint, who steadied the ship with his first major in what was a tight contest.

The visitors came out surging in the early part of the third term, but it was Koo Wee Rup who kicked the first of the quarter off the boot of Nathan Voss. 

Possession see-sawed between the teams for much of the third, until Wells snagged his third to cut the Sea Eagle’s lead to one solitary point. 

With IK in need of another reply, it was that man Oscar exploding from a stoppage on the wing to finish on the run for his third of the day before slotting his fourth soon after. 

The contest then heated up once again, as neither team could get solid control of the pill and create scoring shots until Jamieson Soumilas showed his composure and nailed a set shot for IK.

The visitors finding some fire and pushing their lead out to 18-points at the final break. 

The final term began with a goal to the Dees’ within 30 seconds as the crowd lit up with excitement and hope.

However, it was the poise of the ever-reliable Wyatt who booted the Sea Eagles reply moments later.

For the second year in a row, the Sea Eagles survive a strong scare in Koo Wee Rup, winning by 17-points.

Both sides have the bye next week before IK hosts Korumburra-Bena and the Dee’s travel down to Dalyston.