Orbost Snowy Rovers hosted Lucknow in round one of the East Gippsland Junior Football Association at Lochiel Park last Sunday, and found the going pretty tough against a couple of well-drilled Magpie outfits.
In the under 15s, Lucknow set the tone of the match in the first quarter, kicking four goals to one in a frantic opening, the players delighted to be back in the action after the six month hiatus.
The Blues defence battled hard in the second stanza to combat the Magpies, who ran in waves, combining well at stoppages, with multiple options up forward.
Lucknow led by 44 points at half time, with the home side continuing to battle hard in the second half, with some errant kicking in front of goal, not allowing them to fully capitalise on the opportunities that presented, eventually succumbing by 50 points.
Among the better players were Jasper Anderson, Hunter Greaves, Jimmy Hardy and Lachlan Robinson.
In the under 13s an undermanned Blues line-up battled hard and never gave up after Lucknow kicked six unanswered first term majors.
Zayn Smith, Harlan Smith, Jackson Faithfull, Sonny Marshall and Raphael Bennett-Haberin amongst the best in 30-point defeat.
The Blues have the bye in round two, with the next match on Sunday, April 26 at Lochiel Park.
