Steve Baker and the Berwick Miners began the Gridiron Victoria season in brilliant fashion, thumping the Southern Seahawks 60-0 at Springfield Reserve on Sunday.By Marc McGowan
DESPITE taking some time to shake the off-season rust, the Berwick Miners proved far too good for the Southern Seahawks at Springfield Reserve on Sunday.
But a potentially serious left knee injury to Shahid Malimar did sour the 60-0 Gridiron Victoria triumph.
The running back has been training to also play on defence as a free safety and it was in the latter role that he suffered the injury.
Malimar received an ultrasound yesterday (Wednesday), but the diagnosis was not known before the News went to press.
Miners head coach Darren Shaw said the club expected Malimar to be out for a minimum of a month and possibly the season.
There were many promising signs for Berwick in its season opener, with Miners’ quarterback and last year’s league most valuable player Sam Walker in outstanding form.
The teenager ran in the opening two touchdowns to set the tone for the day.
Walker ultimately threw four touchdown passes and crossed for three of his own.
The other offensive standout was 16-year-old running back Nick Vlad, while Scott Sunderland – who coaches Berwick’s junior side – shone on defence.
The Miners broke out to a 28-0 advantage at half-time and rose to Shaw’s challenge to score more points in the second half than the first to run out easy winners.
“It was not a bad result at all. It was against last year’s cellar dwellers, but it was a good hit-out,” he said.
“I thought the Seahawks had improved a bit on last year and our own offensive line was two to three weeks behind, but we performed better than I expected.
“Once they hit their straps there was no stopping them. The Seahawks just didn’t have the firepower.”
Berwick returns to the field at Deakin University in Geelong against the Bay City Buccaneers from 10.30am on Sunday.
Picture: Stewart Chambers.
