By Lachlan Mitchell
The Pakenham Lions were ready and roaring when they faced up to Mt Evelyn away from home on Saturday.
Pakenham was looking to secure its first win of the season.
The game started in traditional Pakenham fashion with flair and poise shown in what was a tight first quarter battle.
The Lions trailed by one goal leading into the second term and looked to be right in the contest.
Mt Evelyn rallied the troops in the second term to jump out to a six-goal advantage leading into half-time.
The game continued to be influenced by Pakenham’s defensive lapses as Mt Evelyn continued to hold sway by six goals.
Some final-quarter heroics saw the Lions close the gap, scoring 10 last quarter goals, to fall an agonisingly three-goals shy of their first win of the season.
Pakenham’s Chloe Morgan finished with 12 goals while Eliza Molino scored seven to keep her side well and truly in the contest.
Lions coach Matt Cooke believes his side is on the brink of breaking through.
“We had great defensive pressure, although we did turn over a lot of ball,” he explained.
“We didn’t finish as well as we should have, we were somewhere in the range of shooting at 70 per cent.
“I think we didn’t utilise our defensive top end, by turning over a lot of ball. We just didn’t put the ball in the hole enough.
“We have got a really young squad, it’s just what we can get out of young members of the team. Chloe Morgan has shot around 70 per cent and we are starting to see the benefit of investing four years into these players.
“It was an important game and we didn’t win it, so it does put us in a precarious state. There are two or three really strong sides in the competition and we are sitting in the middle tier.
“We have just been unfortunate with lock-downs and Covid and other things. When we played ROC a few weeks ago we were missing four players, most of the players off on international duty.”
Molino has recently been selected to represent Australia’s Under 17 side.
“She’s a home grown-girl who has played at a high level,” Cooke said.
“The defensive back end is pretty good and is one of the best in the competition.”
The Lions have been ’Cubs’ this season with the emergence of a lot of younger players…which excites Cooke for the rest of the year.
“We think there is a really good developing group,” he said.
“I think we are still in a really good spot to still challenge for a finals spot and to make sure we challenge.
“It’s all about improving our goal inconsistency.”
Meanwhile, Narre Warren had a strong win over Beaconsfield at Kalora Park.
The Magpies piled on the pain scoring 50 in the 38-goal win.
ROC had a contest on its hand when it faced Woori Yallock at home. The Kangaroos skipped to a three-goal win with Keeley Burgmann pilling on 29-goals.
Monbulk and Olinda Ferny Creek played out a 41-goal tie. Olinda had to content with a four-goal three-quarter time deficit to fight back to share the points.
Wandin had to scrap to overcome Upwey Tecoma at Thompson Reserve. The Bulldogs clawing their way to an 18-goal win
DIVISION ONE
Berwick continued its unbeaten run with a 50-goal drubbing of Belgrave at Edwin Flack Reserve.
A 14-goal first term set up the thumping win.
Emily Pupke did most of the damage scoring 42 goals to run out on top.
Seville also remained undefeated with a 49-37 win over Emerald at home
Olivia Ray putting on 35 goals in the resounding victory. Berwick Springs couldn’t take a trick when it faced Yarra Glen at Mick Moreland Reserve.
Yarra Glen put the foot down from the first whistle to leap out a 12-goal quarter time lead. Yarra’s Stephanie Gibb showed her class putting on 31 goals in the 26-goal win.
Healesville always looked one-step behind Gembrook-Cockatoo. Rebecca Christie and Chelsea Ingram combining to put the Brookers into the lead, securing the 15-goal win.
PREMIER DIVISION
A GRADE
Mt Evelyn 32 v Pakenham 29
Monbulk 41 v Olinda Ferny Creek 41
Narre Warren 50 v Beconsfield 2
ROC 46 v Woori Yallock 43
Upwey Tecoma 39 v Wandin 57
B GRADE
Mt Evelyn 34 v Pakenham 18
Monbulk 34 v Olinda Ferny Creek 23
Narre Warren 61 v Beconsfield 24
ROC 68 v Woori Yallock 12
Upwey Tecoma 34v Wandin 35
C GRADE
Mt Evelyn 21 v Pakenham 20
Monbulk 17 v Olinda Ferny Creek 40
Narre Warren 45 v Beconsfield 13
ROC 0 v 0 Woori Yallock (Forfeit)
Upwey Tecoma 27 v Wandin 30
D GRADE
Upwey Tecoma 31 v Wandin 13
Mt Evelyn 16 v Pakenham 27
Monbulk 41 v Olinda Ferny Creek 41
Narre Warren 50 v Beconsfield 12
Bye- ROC ,Olinda Ferny Creek
DIVISION ONE
A GRADE
Healesville 24 v Gembrook Cockatoo 39
Berwick Springs 13 v Yarra Glen 39
Seville 49 v Emerald 39
Berwick 67 v Belgrave 17
B GRADE
Healesville 5 v Gembrook Cockatoo 50
Berwick Springs 211 v Yarra Glen 41
Seville 69 v Emerald 23
Berwick 50 v Belgrave 22
C GRADE
Berwick Springs 15 v Yarra Glen 39
Seville 48 v Emerald 35
Berwick 31 v Belgrave 20
Bye: Gembrook Cockatoo
D GRADE
Berwick Springs 37 v Yarra Glen 34
Seville 22 v Emerald 21
Berwick 28 v Belgrave 16
Bye: Gembrook Cockatoo
13U WHITE
Beaconsfield 8 v Pakenham 5
Berwick 26 v Cranbourne 15
Bye- Gembrook Cockatoo,ROC
13U BLUE
Beaconsfield 36 v Pakenham 12
Narre Warren 17 v ROC 24
15U WHITE
Beaconsfield 14 v Pakenham 22
Berwick 7 v Narre Warren 35
ROC 47 v Gembrook Cockatoo 1
15U BLUE
Berwick 14 v Cranbourne 17
Beaconsfield 22 v Pakenham 36
Narre Warren 30 v ROC 19
17U WHITE
Berwick 23 v Cranbourne 11
Beaconsfield 18 v Pakenham 23
Narre Warren 19 v ROC 13
Bye Gembrook Cockatoo
17U BLUE
Seville 29 v Pakenham 19
Olinda Ferny Creek 30 v Wandin 13
Narre Warren 32 v Beaconsfield 15
ROC 51 v Healesville 8
Bye Berwick
