By DAVID NAGEL
PAKENHAM retained fifth position on the Casey Cardinia Football League ladder after the Lions proved too strong for ROC, defeating their closest neighbours by 46 points at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.
The Lions made full use of a strong breeze, kicking 13.9 of their 14.10 final score in the second and fourth quarters. A hard-working and composed midfield controlled the ball into the wind, Corey Lenders, Russ Lehman, Damien Holmes and Beau Wheeler committed to the cause, before the Lions ran free when they had the aid of the breeze.
Lenders was instrumental in the victory, his three goals being matched by coach Steve O’Bryan, while Anthony Young, Joel Gibson and Stephen Morey were effective all day.
Ryan Hendy kicked four goals for the vanquished with James Waldon, Ben O’Loughlin and Ben Tivendale the next of the best.
NARRE Warren hit Berwick right between the eyes with a massive reality check on Saturday, the Magpies winning by 101-points in their Casey Cardinia Football League round three clash at Fox Road.
The reigning premiers are a formidable force, all over the ground at the moment, and the Wickers, expected finalists, were found wanting when the Magpies applied the blow-torch in the second half. Leading by 28 points at half time, the home side booted 13.8 to 1.7 to totally dominate proceedings.
The Magpies main avenue to goal was once again through Kerem Baskaya, the strong-marking full-forward kicking eight goals, while emerging goal-sneak, Stewart Scanlon, roamed the packs well to kick six of his own.
Baskaya was joined by his brother Kain, skipper Michael Collins, Matt Lee and Col McNamara on the Magpies best players list, while Kristian Meredith, Nick Sear, Mitch Johnson (three goals) and Andrew Tuck were solid for the Wickers, who were held goal-less in the final term.
DOVETON sits atop the CCFL ladder after Shannon Henwood’s team made it three-from-three with a gritty 12-point win over Beaconsfield at Holm Park Road.
Both teams were inaccurate in the first half, with the Doves wasting the wind in the first quarter before the Eagles reciprocated in the second. The Eagles led by seven points at half-time, the 3.9 to 2.8 score-line more a reflection on the windy conditions than the outstanding efforts of both sides.
Doveton made a crucial run, early in the third quarter.
Goals to ruckman Frank D’Agostino and Ryan Morrison -both from 50-metre penalties- were followed a short-time later by two clever goals from Shannon Stocco, as the Doves built a match-winning 29-point lead at the final break.
Veteran Justin Hill was outstanding in defence for the winners, reading the play beautifully to cut off the Eagles advances and then using his silky skills on the rebound. Matt Stapleton, Josh Viney and Daniel Zajac were others to impress while Kane Airdrie, Ryan Cotter and Shaun Pollard did well for the hosts.
TOORADIN certainly shared the load against Hampton Park with 15 goal kickers contributing to a 151-point win over the Redbacks at Western Port Oval.
The Seagulls kicked 10 goals in the first half before doubling that after half time to take some good confidence into this week’s clash with Cranbourne.
Scott Szucs showed his versatility with six goals, while Daniel Conroy, Adam Splatt, Ryan Eaton and Julian Suarez all slotted three each.
The Redbacks were well served by Michael McDonald, who booted two goals, while Andrew McClimont, Mark Penn, Lionel Beniot and Nathan Dawes were solid four-quarter contributors.
CRANBOURNE has the most potent forward weapons in the CCFL but it was its under-rated defence that set up the Eagles 86-point win over Keysborough at Rowley Allen Reserve on Saturday.
The Eagles defence, led brilliantly by Ray George, kept the Burra goal-less in the first quarter as the visitors built a 34-point lead, a margin it extended gradually as the afternoon wore on.
Cranbourne’s mid-sized fleet won plenty of the ball throughout the day with George, Mat Fletcher, Justin Shields and Justin Berry providing twin-peaks, Marc Holt (6 goals) and Troy Tharle (5) with ample opportunity to hit the scoreboard hard. Berry kicked three for the winners while veteran hard-nuts in Leigh Holt and Troy Datson enjoyed the small confines of the Rowley Allen Oval.
Keysborough, unlike last week, never threw in the towel with Geoff Humphreys, Michael Downie and veteran Corey Wilkinson leading the way.
