SANDRINGHAM has finished the home and away season with a 55-point loss after a mostly tight contest against the in-form Williamstown at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.

The Zebras managed to stick with the Seagulls until three-quarter-time until a blistering final quarter from Williamstown saw the margin blowout.

Josh Saunders was impressive for the Zebras after being omitted from the senior team while Darren Minchington combined well with the ruck work of Jason Holmes and Lewis Pierce.

It was a ferocious opening term with the Zebras displaying early that they would not be overawed by the skills of their Williamstown counterparts.

Despite having most of the play early, the Zebras were unable to make any scoreboard impact before Williamstown started to become more efficient up forward, eventually skipping out to a 13-point lead at the first break.

Goals to Kenny Ong and Trent Dennis-Lane to open the second quarter brought Sandringham back to within two points as the Zebras began to take momentum. 

Again, Sandringham failed to capitalise on its momentum with Williamstown having four of the final five scoring shots in the second term to lead by 10 points at half time.

Three consecutive behinds to Williamstown to open the second half sent warning signs all around Trevor Barker Beach Oval, as the Seagulls looked on the verge of breaking the game wide open.

A goal to Sandringham’s Kyremborg brought the margin back to within four points as the Zebras began to make their last push to steal the lead back. It wasn’t to be however, as Williamstown went on to kick two of the next three goals to maintain the 10-point margin from half time.

Having used all of their energy trying to hit the front, the Sandringham players had no run left in the final quarter – Williamstown securing a top four spot with the last seven majors of the contest.

Sandringham will meet an injury-depleted Collingwood in an Elimination Final next weekend with the date, time and venue still to be confirmed.

SANDRINGHAM     4.2  7.2  9.7      9.8      62
WILLIAMSTOWN  6.3  8.6  10.11 17.15 107  

Goals: Dennis-Lane 2, Kyremborg 2, Minchington, Dunell, Cook, Saunders, Ong
Best: Saunders, Dunell, Minchington, Pierce, Holmes, Dennis-Lane