By DAVID NAGEL
WITH just two rounds remaining, some real clarity descended on Casey Cardinia football after round 16 sorted the contenders from the pretenders.
Although the order is still to be settled, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Beaconsfield and Pakenham were already locked and loaded as finalist.
Berwick has now joined them after recovering from a slow start to out-gun Doveton by 28 points at Robinson Oval.
Despite being locked on eight wins each heading into the big clash, a win was more imperative for the Doves who have a harder run home than the Wickers.
The Doves started well but inaccuracy, where they kicked 4.7 to 4.1 in the first term, cost them true reward for effort.
Berwick shut the Doves down after quarter time, restricting the home side to just three more goals for the game while piling on nine of its own. Nathan Waite with five goals and Mitch Johnson and Jordy Andrews with three were terrific for the Navy Blues, who also had skipper Madi Andrews play a blinder through the midfield.
BEACONSFIELD and Pakenham battled for a double-chance at Holm Park Road and it was the Eagles who emerged victorious with an impressive 58-point win.
This one had all the hallmarks of an arm-wrestle mid-way through the second term before the home side ran riot.
With ruckman Scott Meyer causing mayhem all over the ground, the Eagles booted eight unanswered goals to take total control of the contest. Kane Airdrie and Daniel Battaglin defended stoutly for the Eagles while skipper Dean Blake was best for the Lions.
CRANBOURNE’s danger-game trip to ROC ended well, with Doug Koop’s team riding a brilliant second term to a 57-point triumph at Starling Road.
Cranny trailed by five points at the first break but turned that into a 37-point lead at half-time courtesy of a 6.6 to 0.0 second quarter.
Skipper Marc Holt was back to his best, taking his season goal tally to 90 with a bag of seven for the winners, while Ash Brown and Matt Rogers slotted three each for the Kangaroos.
NARRE Warren took a while to get warm but the premiership fancies hit top gear in the second half on their way to a 71-point win over Tooradin at Western Port Oval.
The Magpies led by just eight points at half time before a seven-goal third quarter put the issue beyond doubt. Dangerous half-forward Aaron McIver got free to kick five for the Maggies to take his tally to 53 for the year.
Michael Collins and Josh Tonna were terrific for the Magpies, while four goals to Ryan Eaton and great games from Jake Genoni and Rory Hillis were highlights for the Seagulls.
KEYSBOROUGH produced one of the worst goal-kicking performances of the season on its way to a 29-point win over Hampton Park at Robert Booth Reserve.
The Burra, who were joined at the hip with the Redbacks at quarter time, kicked an atrocious 4.9 in the second term to take a 26-point lead into half time and maintained that for the remainder of the match.
The Redbacks’ losing streak now extends to 20 August 2011.
