Sea Eagles survive a Giant scare

INVERLOCH-KONGWAK welcomed back some troops and looked to kick start their run to finals action when they hosted Korumburra-Bena. 

And the hosts came out firing, finding their star full forward Tristan Van Driel to draw first blood in the match within minutes of the opening siren. 

However, desperate to avoid another embarrassing defeat and sporting some crucial ins themselves, the Giants hit back hard, pressing well and booting their first in reply. 
IK then found a groove and their gun midfielder Oscar Toussaint slotted his first major.

The ball then went back and forth between the scoring arcs for several minutes until Michael Eales broke through with a goal, much to the delight his teammates. 

Van Driel’s second led the Sea Eagles into the first break with a 20-point buffer, as tensions flared, and players were pulled from a scuffle in the middle. 

The visitors started the second term perfectly, swiftly moving the ball down to their big forward Paul Fermanis who converted for his first and celebrated hard. 

IK continued to press and place immense forward pressure on the underdog Giants, eventually leading to an opportunistic Thomas Wyatt major on the goal line. 

The hosts lead whittled down to 9-points at the half. 
The third quarter began with both sides pressing hard, and the pressure gauge lifted a few notches, drying up scoring early until Toby Mahoney broke through with his first of the day. 

The Giants were good enough to apply though thanks to a clever crumbing goal off the boot of Bailey Nation. 
At the final break, Inverloch Kongwak still led by 10-points. 

The final term started with more hot footy and IK surged forward and found Van Driel for his third. 

However, as they had for much of the day the visitors replied quickly, as some rare ill-discipline from IK resulted in another goal to the men in orange. 

The Sea Eagles were forward press was again set up brilliantly, holding the Giants from breaking out of their defence, despite multiple misses in front of goal. 

The Sea Eagles finally broke from defence and pulled off one of their classic link up plays, ending in a major to Will Turner, before his captain slotted his second. 

The hosts slamming on seven unanswered goals to start the fourth, as the young Giants started to run out of puff, with a bench once again full of injured soldiers. 
They were able to reply with a goal, but Van Driel answered straight back with his fourth, a classy goal out of the ruck. 

An unlucky end for the Giants, who were simply magnificent for the first three quarters, putting on some of the toughest pressure the Sea Eagles have seen all year. 

They will take this momentum into next week and look for their second win on the year when they host Bunyip.

As for IK, they look to be the first defeat Tooradin-Dalmore, when the Seagulls come down the highway.