In a top-of-the-table clash the Sea Eagles thumped the Merimbula Diggers in a bruising contest 15-10-100 to 6-4-40.

Senior coach Brad McBain said the game boiled down as a story of two halves, with enormous pressure from the Diggers early on before the Sea Eagles ran away with the scoring in the second half. 

“It was a credit to them putting us under that pressure in the first half, but later we found the game style we like and I’m pretty happy with how we finished off,” McBain said. 

“Some of the older boys are pretty bruised and pulled up a bit sore though.

“But we needed that, we needed a big test and to get hardened before the finals.”

He said the club had met the Panthers twice in the season, but the Panthers had been under-manned in both encounters, so Saturday was a true test for the club. 

The coach said one of the main surprises from the game was a quiet showing from the half-back line in the early stages before some positional changes. 

“We had a lot of work on in the first half and I think our half-back line was just a little slow in responding,” he said. 

The co-captains were switched up with Scotty Hay moving to the centres, while Luke Taylor fell back to direct play. 

“If you could have a Luke in the middle, forward and half-back line you’d win every game, he just communicates and uses the footy so well,” McBain said. 

“Scotty was a bit quiet on the talk early, but we moved him to the middle and he was a gun in central clearances, coming up with plenty of ball.”

McBain said he was impressed by the quality of the Merimbula team, particularly its midfield, but wasn’t giving away any names. 

“A few of their guys really stood up, but I won’t be giving too much away on who we would look at,” McBain said. 

“From our end it was a real credit for Richard Spink to stand up to the Diggers’ ruckman solo for a majority of the game.”

The scores reflected the tug-of-war in the opening quarter with the Eagles leading by just eight points, but heading into the final quarter the margin had blown out to 30 points.

The Sea Eagles took full control in the final passage to kick another 30 points, while the Diggers were able to muster just one behind. 

The Diggers got their own back with a three-point win over the Sea Eagles in reserves 43-40. 

Reserves was a real power-struggle with the lead swaying repeatedly and coming down to the final minutes of play. 

John Harney was on point for the Sea Eagles, booting three goals in a tough encounter. 

This week the Sea Eagles play the Whalers