Cranbourne centre half-forward Marc Holt had a typically strong game in his side’s 27-point defeat to ladder-leader Pakenham at Casey Fields on Saturday. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE showed its well-known and feared resolve to fight back after a disastrous start against league leaders Pakenham on Saturday, and push the Lions to the limit before falling away in the last quarter to go down by 27 points at Casey Fields.
The Lions were forced to fight back after losing the lead late in the third term to the spirited home side and in doing so, cemented themselves in top position.
Pakenham quickly exerted pressure on the Cranbourne midfield in the opening term through the experience of coach Dan O’Loughlin, Beau Miller, Luke Walker and ruckman Jeremy Everett, while the Eagles had plenty of the football but fumbled, dropped marks and turned it over too often.
At quarter time prospects looked dire for the home side with Pakenham leading by 38 points from 14 scoring shots to one.
That situation changed quickly after Cranbourne players decided that the game was still there to be won in the second term. Lion defender Adam Cook was forced from the field with an injured ankle and Marc Holt started to dominate the air at centre half forward.
The Eagles began to smother, chase and win the ball out of the centre with Ryan Davey, Leigh Holt and Ray George creating numerous scoring opportunities.
At half time the margin had been reduced to 13 points and the momentum had shifted.
The crowd was treated to some of the best running football of the season in the third term with Marc Holt absolutely taking over in the Cranbourne forward line, marking everything and working in unison with stand-in full forward Andre Young to boot four majors for the term.
Young put the Eagles in front at the 19-minute mark with a great snap, but Pakenham rallied and answered to take a six-point lead into the final break.
While at no stage did Cranbourne throw in the towel, the Lions over ran their tiring opponents in the last quarter despite Holt booting his sixth and seventh goals for the day just prior to time-on.
Cranbourne coach Doug Koop handed control to his assistant Bill King for the afternoon due to personal commitments, and King conceded afterwards that the side’s slow start had been the difference.
DEVON MEADOWS won the Ron Mantel Shield for the first time since its inception, with a solid 42-point result over neighbours Tooradin at the Western Port oval.
The match was spirited from the first bounce with Tooradin taking the game right up to the Panthers who looked to have an edge in attack with Aaron Henneman and big man Callum O’Hare looking dangerous.
Only three points separated the sides at the first two breaks and Seagull supporters were hoping that their players could rise to the occasion and record their first win of 2008.
It was not to be however and, after a competitive third quarter, the Panthers led by 14 points at the final change, before ramming home their advantage in height around the field to skip away and record their second win for the season.
Henneman booted six goals for Devon Meadows and was joined among the day’s better players by team mates Guy Chisnall, Brett Armitage and Tim Blundy, while Tooradin was well served by James Thompson, Aaron Hyde and Steve Arvanitis who copped a decent cut to the eye requiring stitches after the game.
Turnovers and a lack of surety with the ball early in the contest, cost Hampton Park any chance of upsetting undefeated reigning premiers Narre Warren at the Robert Booth Reserve.
The Magpies ran out comfortable 87-point winners and were clearly superior to the home side in most aspects of the game.
Despite playing at their revered home ground, so often a graveyard for opposition sides, the Redbacks were dominated from the first bounce and slipped to a six-goal deficit at the first change.
A short lived rally towards the end of the second term led by Josh Taylor, Linden Fredericks and Chris Hussey provided four goals, but the Magpies retained the edge through the swift and sure ball movement of Ricky Clark, Nick Scanlon, Jarrod Anderson and promising youngster Daniel Borninkof.
The margin shot out from 34 points at half time to 66 points at three-quarter time before ending mercifully at 87 points at the final siren.
Star Magpie Brett Evans finished the day with five goals.
KEYSBOROUGH converted an almost certain Berwick win into despair for the Wickers, with a one-sided final quarter that saw the visitors turn a 23-point deficit into a stunning 22-point victory at the Edwin Flack Reserve.
Berwick now sits near the bottom of the Casey Cardinia league ladder on no wins and four losses after the first four rounds, while the Burra is flying and remains undefeated in 2008.
Berwick hit the ground running and bolted to a 31-point lead in the opening term with spearhead George Gorozidis (seven goals) on target and plenty of supply from running team mates led by Shaun Barnes and debutant Shannon Rusca from Darwin.
Keysborough lifted its work rate after quarter time but still trailed by 27 points at half time and 23 points at the final change, with the home side in a winning position.
However, the visitors piled on seven unanswered goals to overtake the Wickers and then secure an important away win on the big finals venue.
BEACONSFIELD wiped aside struggling neighbours ROC in a one-sided goal-feast at the Perc Allison Reserve.
Livewire forwards Luke McConnell and Andrew Williams led the Kangaroo defence a merry dance, sharing 15 of the Eagles 20 goals, while wingman Justin Duffy continued his outstanding start to the 2008 season with another stellar performance in the 80-point result.
However there was a downside for the home side with the club’s serious injury toll rising by two with key on-baller Kris Fletcher sustaining a calf strain and Young Gun nominee Jesse Linkins badly injuring an ankle.
In Nepean league PEARCEDALE had to battle hard to earn an eight-point win over Crib Point with nuggety playmaker Robert Grillinzoni taking the day’s goal-kicking honours with five majors.
