By David Nagel
Four goals in a stunning eight-minute burst have led Pakenham to a hard-fought 16-point victory over Berwick Springs in their Outer East Women’s Division One clash at Mick Morland Reserve on Saturday.
The Lions made the Titans pay for winning the toss and electing to kick into a stiff breeze in the opening term, kicking their only four goals for the match towards the end of the first quarter.
The Lions then held off a brave challenge from the Titans, particularly in the third term, scoring a 4.9.33 to 2.5.17 victory.
Pakenham held sway right across the ground in the first term, with Emily Devine controlling things across half back, while Chloe Nagel, Courtney Stephens, Bianca Moody and Tayla Sbisa had the better of the midfield battles.
The Lions wasted their early opportunities, but struck first with eight minutes to run in the opening stanza.
Full-forward Chelsea English kicked a ripper around her body, before Stephens drifted forward to kick another just two minutes later.
The Lions were full of running by now, with a great chain of play between Brianna Menere and Tanya Stafford almost resulting in a third.
The team-first approach then paid off for the Lions again, with Pippa Simon giving a handball to Tianah Vendesteeg who kicked the visitors out to a 20-point lead.
Nagel then grabbed one out of the ruck – Tom Hawkins style – and kicked a beauty from stoppage with the last kick of the first quarter.
The Lions then worked hard to restrict the Titans to no score with the wind in the second term.
But any hopes of a runaway victory for Pakenham soon vanished, as the Titans outplayed the Lions in the second half.
Prime movers in Felicity Jouvelet, Zara Strang and Tracey McMinimee began to get their hands on the footy and the Titans outscored the Lions – against the breeze – in the third.
The Titans, through Kim Emile and Taylah Laxon, then closed the margin quickly in the final term before the Lions settled and played the game in their forward half.
Devine was superb for the winners, while Stephens, Nagel, Vandesteeg and young-gun Aliya Daniel had plenty of the footy through the night.
Both teams had seven scoring shots after quarter time, the Titans kicking 2.5 to the Lions seven points.
Reigning premier Upwey Tecoma has been made to work hard for its 2.10.22 to 0.0.0 victory over Olinda Ferny Creek.
The Tigers wasted their opportunities in the second term, kicking 1.5, but still did enough to collect the four points.
Goals to Bec Thompson and Dakota Roach were like gold for the Tigers, who had Bec Thompson and Corinna White in great form around the ground.
Lily Carlin, Kyah Barry and Anja Hulston were best for Olinda, who face a tough trip to Healesville this week.
And Healesville remains undefeated after a convincing 124-point win over bottom-placed Monbulk.
The Bloods had 8, 11, 11 and 9 scoring shots in each quarter, but could only kick 17 goals from their 39 scoring shots.
The Bloods were most accurate in the opening quarter, kicking 6.2, before the radar went amiss after quarter time.
Results R7: Upwey Tecoma 2.10.22 def Olinda Ferny Creek 0.0.0, Monbulk 0.0.0 def by Healesville 17.22.124, Berwick Springs 2.5.17 def by Pakenham 4.9.33.
Ladder: Healesville 28, Upwey Tecoma 24, Olinda Ferny Creek 12, Pakenham 12, Berwick Springs 8, Monbulk 0.
Fixture R8: Healesville (1) v Olinda Ferny Creek (3), Monbulk (6) v Pakenham (4), Upwey Tecoma (2) v Berwick Springs (5).
