By DAVID NAGEL
ALL is not lost for Pakenham despite its horror-start to the Casey Cardinia league season continuing on Saturday with a 96-point belting at the hands of Berwick.
The Lions, who have suffered heavily at the hands of Narre Warren and the Wickers in their first two outings, at least have the chance to turn things around with a softening draw.
The Lions have winnable games on the horizon against Keysborough, Tooradin, ROC, Doveton and Hampton Park, the bottom fives sides from last year.
But wow … they’d want to improve because Saturday’s effort was deplorable against the Wickers.
After a relatively even first quarter, Berwick kicked 14.3 to 1.3 in the second and third quarters and had winners everywhere. Pakenham had no answer as Madi Andrews, Aaron Purvis and Paul Vanschilt cut a swathe through the middle of the ground, hardly touched as they ran riot.
Nathan Waite kicked five goals in just over a half for the winners while at the other end of the ground Jayden Joyce, Kristian Meredith and Nick Sear led a miserly defence that kept the Lions to just three goals for the day.
Jack Kowarzik, Dom Paynter and Ben Keane were three players who could hold their heads high in an otherwise poor performance.
ROC has reversed the trend from a week ago, this time capitalising on a fast start to walk away from Robert Booth Reserve nine-goal winners over Hampton Park.
The Kangaroos bounced out of the blocks, opening up a 34-point lead at quarter time and that was the end of the penny section. James Sloothaak, James Waldon and exciting 16-year-old Ryan Spierings were superb down back while Matthew Clarke chimed in with five goals.
Matthew Cox kicked three for the hosts, but for the second week running was the only multiple contributor for his side. Adam Koe, Luke O’Brien and Nathan Dawes did well around the ground while ruckman Billy Thomas battled hard in the ruck against Dylan Chapman.
NARRE Warren was quite simply magnificent in its 98-point victory over Beaconsfield.
The Magpies looked like they hadn’t been fed for a week, an insatiable appetite for the pill proving too much for the Eagles to handle as the visitors kicked 6.4 before the home side had scored.
Narre had many winners throughout the course of the day, with its defence particularly impressive.
Ryan Morrison did a great job of keeping Brent Heus goalless, while Nick Scanlon, Kain Baskaya and Ben King were impenetrable across half back.
Kerem Baskaya, Justin Marriott, and Ben Wragg kicked three each for the winners, while small defender Cleyton Bertoncello tried his heart out for the Eagles.
DOVETON rebounded from a disappointing round one loss to Keysborough to score a hard-fought 10-point away victory over Tooradin.
Doveton’s best was Michael Rodriquez, who kept Julian Suarez goalless for the afternoon while Cam Williamson made the most of his opportunities to kick four for the winners. Frank D’Agostino continued his bright start to the season in the ruck while Phil Nanfra was effective in his first senior game since switching from ROC.
James Cottrell, Matt Wade and Brett Scarcella were best for the Seagulls.
CRANBOURNE’s superstar full-forward Marc Holt has booted nine goals in the Eagles’ 116-point dismantling of Keysborough at Casey Fields on Friday night.
The 150th game for popular defender Stuart Morrish sparked the Eagles and Holt into action, a 7.5 to 0.1 first term ending the game as a contest. Wingman Luke Bee-Hugo and midfielder Max Gearon provided Holt, Michael Theodoridis (6 goals) and Tim Smith (3 goals) with plenty of opportunity up forward, while Morrish led a strong back-six in his milestone game. Michael Downie and Tim Werner battled hard for the Burra.
