By DAVID NAGEL
PAKENHAM’S dream start to the South East Football Netball League season has continued with a 16-point victory over Cranbourne in an absolute cracker at Toomuc Reserve.
This one had everything the football enthusiast could ask for – the Lions breathtakingly clean with their skills in the first half before the Eagles responded with a gutsy comeback in the second half.
Pakenham kicked out to a 52-point lead in the second quarter, courtesy of some brilliant ball use from Russell Lehman, Dean Blake and Chris Smith, while Nathan Brown and Troy Toussaint were repelling everything down back.
Jake Smith was dangerous up forward, kicking four, but what the Lions didn’t count on was a brilliant reply from the visitors after the break.
Led by their champion full-forward Marc Holt (7 goals), the Eagles drew within 11 points in the final term before Toussaint kicked the sealer to leave the Lions as the only unbeaten team this season.
Narre Warren has sent more than a friendly reminder that its premiership hopes are alive and well with a 33-point victory over title-holders Beaconsfield at Holm Park Reserve.
The Magpies, the perennial powerhouse of the league, had uncharacteristically lost back-to-back games against Pakenham and Berwick in rounds two and three to raise doubts about their ability to dominate the competition like they have in recent years.
But they bounced back against quality opposition on Saturday; coach Chris Toner proud of his side for bouncing back after the 49-point defeat to the Wickers.
“Sometimes when you get belted it puts the wheels in motion because you don’t have the excuses that you use when lose the close ones,” he said.
The Magpies kicked out to a 37-point lead, 19 minutes into the third quarter, before repelling a strong Eagles’ comeback in the final term.
Kerem Baskaya kicked five and Michael Collins and Hayden Stagg three each for the winners, a tally matched by Taylor Joyce and Beau Dowler for Beacy.
ROC clinched its first win of the season over Tooradin in the WorkSafe AFL Vic. Country Game of the Month at Tooradin on Sunday.
Sean Roach was a pivotal figure in the ruck for the Kangaroos, while Matt Ford, Blair Allan and Matt Rogers chimed in with two goals apiece.
Adam Splatt and Kyle Van Der Pluym snagged two each for the still winless Seagulls.
Six goals to Ben Kearns, and five to Ash Smith, were the highlights of Berwick’s thumping 159-point victory over Hampton Park.
Michael Riseley, Tim Gunn, James Phillips and Madi Andrews were other fine contributors for the navy blues, who have now won three on the trot.
Aaron Holden and Nathan Dawes were best for the Redbacks.
