The Seagulls’ dash lifted them to an 11.18 (84) to 11.12 (78) win over the Bloods in Terang on Saturday, condemning the latter to their second narrow loss to start the Hampden league season.

Sam McCartney, who kicked the winning point against Cobden in round one, booted the sealer for Port Fairy while ruckman Sandy Robinson and recruits Jaise Coleman and Lachie Glare set the tone for its second-half comeback.

Nicholson said the Seagulls had to play catch up after falling 24 points behind at half-time.

They were still 16 points in arrears at the final change.

“Our running capability really helped us late in the game with our spread,” the first-year mentor said.

“In the first three quarters we probably only had 14 or 15 handball receives and we had about 17 in the last quarter.”

Nicholson, who described Glare as “a bull” in the midfield, said the Seagulls’ slow start was a concern.

“Our first half wasn’t acceptable but in the second we got our run going, our handball receives up and started to get (the ball) over the back,” he said.

Terang Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant said the injury-hit Bloods cost themelves in “a game of two halves”.

“Fitness wasn’t why we were overrun, it was just stupid plays really,” he said.

“We opened ourselves up too much and the opposition got it. It was way too easy to score.”

The Bloods lost Nick Couch (back strain) and Tom McKenzie (infected toe) before the game and key defender Chris Baxter hurt his ankle in the opening term.

“It doesn’t look great at the moment and it really hurt us for the rest of the day,” Sargeant said of Baxter’s injury.

Sargeant said Harrison Hobbs, Joel Crawley and Joel Moloney did their best to push the game in the Bloods’ favour.