By DAVID NAGEL
PAKENHAM’s search for respect – from all within the Casey Cardinia Football League community- has been found after the Lions continued their magnificent recent form with a spirited 19-point victory over Berwick at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Steve O’Bryan and his Lions have now won eight of their last nine matches, and jump to third on the ladder after they stood tall in a classic battle of wills. It was also the Lions third win, in a four-match stretch, that was always going to be their biggest test of character for the season.
“We thought if we could win two of those four, we’d be happy, but to win three of the four is a fantastic effort,” O’Bryan said from a jubilant change rooms after the match.
Both teams traded blows in the first half, before the Lions took advantage of a stiff breeze that blew towards the netball court end of the ground, to take a two-goal lead into the final term. From there, it was all about players standing tall, the Lions not only surviving, but thriving in the last quarter pressure-cooker to take favouritism for a double-chance in September.
“It’s going to be tough, it’s not guaranteed, but it’s our chance to get it and if we don’t, it will be our fault,” O’Bryan explained.
The Lions had the best focal point on the ground, in full-forward Daniel Fry, who kicked four for the afternoon including an absolute classic from long-range on the boundary in the third term. O’Bryan himself, played a key role down back in the final term, while Steve Morey, Anthony Young and Jarrod Tonks earned praise in a very even team performance. Berwick skipper Madi Andrews, along with Luke Sheppard and Daniel Harrison, were best for the home side.
Narre Warren has sent an ominous warning to its fellow premiership contenders with a 114-point whitewash of Beaconsfield at Kalora Park.
The Magpies were dominant, but not quite clinical in the first term, converting just three of their 12 shots on goal as -with the aid of a strong breeze- they peppered the scoreboard end at Fox Road.
Beaconsfield’s hopes of a revival were then dashed in the second term as Magpie midfielders Dylan Quirk, Michael Collins, Col McNamara and Matt Lee provided the impetus for a 4.5-to-0.3 stanza that stretched the home side’s 13-point lead at quarter time out to 39 at the main break.
With their spirit broken, the Eagles watched on as the ruthless title-holders piled on 9.3-to-0.4 to blow the contest out in the third.
Lee Boyle, Aaron McIver, Jackson Parker and Liam Myatt bagged three each for the hosts while defender Ben King and young ruckman Jordyn Flannery joined a dominant band of midfielders on the best players list.
A brilliant nine-goal second term has helped ROC secure a 36-point victory over Hampton Park at Starling Road. The Kangas opened up a 63-point buffer at the main break before taking the foot off the accelerator in the second half. Blair Allan was superb, kicking five goals for the winners, while three goals to Ben Tivendale and sterling performances from youngsters Luke Smaluch, Ryan Spierings and Jake Ingaliso were other highlights. Cory Phillips, Nathan Allen and Josh Craig were best for the Redbacks who fought the game out well after half-time.
Doveton’s brave mid-season resurgence has continued with a typically gritty 22-point win over Tooradin at Robinson Oval. The Doves, who have now won three-on-the-trot, opened up an early lead with the wind, before setting up victory with a strong defensive effort in the second term.
A wasteful 3.8-to-0.1 third quarter locked away the points, before the Seagulls rallied late. Michael Henry kicked three, and comeback-kid Ricky Hayes two for the winners, while Jordan Temopoulos did a great job quelling the influence of Seagulls champ Matt Wade. Paddy Chin was a livewire up forward, kicking four for the losers.
Cranbourne skipper Marc Holt has returned to form with his seven-goal haul leading the Eagles to an 83-point victory over Keysborough at Rowley Allen Reserve. The champion full-forward had kicked just eight goals in his last five games, but showed his class as the Eagles piled on 7.7 to 1.2 in the final term to run away with the points. Michael Theodoridis slammed through five; speed-machine Ryan Jones kicked four, while Luke Bee-Hugo and Michael Boland were other clear winners on the day. Geoff Humphreys bagged three goals to join Bryce Sutton and Ryan Goodes as the Burra’s best players.
