Williamstown’s mid-season run of good form came to a sudden halt in a 21-point loss to Box Hill Hawks in the VFL on Saturday.
But the Seagulls were far from disgraced as they pushed the reigning premier and ladder leader throughout the match, even looking a likely winner at times, despite going down 14.9 (93) to 10.12 (72).
The result leaves Williamstown in fourth place as one of three teams on 24 points, behind Footscray Bulldogs and ahead of Collingwood on percentage.
The Seagulls didn’t make a great start and the early stages at Box Hill City Oval proved tough as the Hawks jumped to a 15-point lead by the first break.
But from there the Seagulls found
their groove and began to look more comfortable.
Williamstown closed the margin to just nine points at the main break before producing some of its best football in a blistering third term.
The Seagulls managed to shut the Hawks down at the defensive end and conceded only one goal for the quarter while booting four themselves to take a 10-point lead into the final term.
But in pouring rain, Box Hill overran Williamstown in the final 15 minutes, kicking six final-term goals to one.
In a match that was played under finals-like intensity, Ben Davies again showed his class to be one of the best players for the Seagulls.
Around the ground, Kane Lambert was also strong, while up forward Scott Clouston continued his good year with a bag of three goals.
He has now kicked 19 from his nine matches this season.
For Box Hill, Sam Iles was hard to stop, producing yet another strong game for the Hawks.
He was well supported by Dallas Willsmore, who kicked four goals.
The weekend’s result means Williamstown slips to a 6-4 record.
This weekend, the Seagulls will take on Sandringham at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
In other VFL results, the Footscray Bulldogs produced arguably their best win since going standalone, defeating Port Melbourne by 36 points.
Travelling to one of the competition’s toughest venues at North Port Oval didn’t bother the young Bulldogs who played some outstanding football on their way to the
19.8 (122) to 13.8 (86) win.
