By DAVID NAGEL
THERE was no need for an ice-bath after Saturday’s round 13 of Casey Cardinia league football as wet and freezing conditions greeted players at all five venues.
PAKENHAM’s normally pristine Toomuc Reserve even held surface water as the Lions basically assured themselves a finals berth with a commanding 21-point win over Doveton in the match-of-the-day.
The Lions dominated the first quarter, allowing Doveton just three inside-50s, but left the door ajar by kicking 3.7 to 0.1 for the term. The four-goal margin was huge in the conditions and was one Steve O’Bryan’s men held through to the final siren.
O’Bryan, Stephen Morey and skipper Dean Blake, in his 100th game, were superb for the Lions while Russ Lehman, three goals, and Beau Wheeler, two, capped off great games by hitting the scoreboard hard.
BEACONSFIELD skipper Daniel Mislicki became just the sixth player in the club’s history to play 200 games as the Eagles slaughtered Hampton Park by 102 points at Holm Park Road.
It became embarrassing for the Redbacks, who scored their only point for the day on the final siren. Mislicki, who shows no signs of slowing down, kicked a goal and was best afield in his milestone match, while Ethan Clasby, Josh Dodsworth and Shaun Pollard, who bagged three goals, who other valuable contributors.
NARRE Warren and ROC had a tense beginning to their match at Fox Road, a melee breaking out before the first bounce, before the Magpies asserted their superiority with an 84-point victory.
The Kangaroos were plucky but had no answer to a battering-ram named Michael Collins, four goals from Aaron McIver and three from Nick Scanlon. Col McNamara, Andrew Hunter and Josh Tonna were other winners for the home side who kept the visitors to just one-point in the second half.
BERWICK moved back into the top five after a flying first-quarter set up a 39-point win at Keysborough.
The Wickers removed any thought that this was a danger game with a 4.2 to 0.0 first term, extended that 26-point lead to 58 by the last change, before the Burra gained some respectability in the final quarter. Jake McLardy and Madi Andrews dominated the midfield for the Wickers while Dan Harrison played a blinder in the ruck.
CRANBOURNE bounced – or slid its way – back into the winners list with a 48-point win over Tooradin at Westernport Oval.
The Eagles have many injury concerns at the moment but dug deep to stretch a 13-point lead at half time into a comprehensive victory.
Jack Coutts, Leigh Holt and Matty Weller were best for the victors while James Martin and Jake O’Donnell led a wayward flock of Seagulls.
