By DAVID NAGEL
BODIES were bruised and blood was spilt as Narre Warren and Berwick produced an absolute classic game of wet-weather football to complete round 12 of the Casey Cardinia league on Saturday.
Cars got bogged and shoes got wrecked as the Magpies home-ground at Kalora Park provided a wet and muddy surface for one of the best games of the season. The Magpies eventually triumphed by 20 points to take a two-game buffer at the top of the table and condemn the brave Wickers to their fourth loss on the trot.
After a tight first quarter, the Magpies looked to have broken the Wickers’ spirit late in the second term as Lee Boyle and Chris Collins kicked goals to extend the margin to beyond 20 points.
The Wickers had a decision to make, to either roll over and die or respond… and they responded in style.
Two goals to Mitch Johnson and another to Jordy Andrews cut the margin to just seven points at the final break to set up a highly-spirited final term.
Goals to Nick Scanlon and Kerem Baskaya sealed the deal for the Magpies who rate this win as one of their finest in recent seasons.
Rover Dylan Quirk was superb for the Magpies while Damian Collins, Col McNamara and running-machine Jackson Parker were others to catch the eye. Berwick was brave with young ruckman Jake Gains and the Andrews boys Jordy and Madi leading the way.
Cranbourne’s champion full-forward Marc Holt stole the show at Casey Fields, kicking 10-goals in the Eagles’ 113-point win over Tooradin.
It was Holt’s 13th double-figure haul of his career and took his tally of senior goals to a tick under 750.
The Eagles took their time in shrugging off the Seagulls leading by just 14 points at the first break before dominating the remainder of the contest.
With Ryan Jones in hot-form through the midfield and Michael Theodoridis playing a key-role up forward, the Eagles stretched their lead out to 40 points at the main break before kicking 11.8 to just 0.1 in the second half.
Holt was magnificent with his perfect 10 while Jones’s five-goal performance was not surprising given his recent run of form.
Adam Galea, Phil Burns, Brad Lenders and Brett Scarcella were best for the Seagulls.
In the final game of a split-round 12, Beaconsfield kept Hampton Park goal-less on its way to a 110-point victory at Holm Park Road.
Shaun Pollard was on fire, kicking six of the best for the Eagles while Scott Meyer, Damien Szwaja and Jayden Gee were others to shine.
Doveton, Keysborough, Pakenham and ROC rested their legs on the weekend but will re-join the fun when a full-scale round 13 takes place this Saturday.
