Cranbourne coach Doug Koop pleads for a big effort from his By Brad Kingsbury
BEACONSFIELD star Andrew Williams claimed best-on-ground honours in his side’s 16-point victory over CRANBOURNE in Saturday’s match-of-the-day at the Perc Allison oval.
Williams booted six goals as a ruck-rover, earning praise from both coaches afterwards.
Beaconsfield was on its game from the first bounce and focussed on denying the Cranbourne playmakers an easy passage forward, with key defender Kane Airdrie nullifying powerhouse Cranbourne forward Marc Holt.
The home side led by 14 points at quarter time and 12 points at the half-time interval.
While it was not a big margin at either break, Cranbourne players became more and more frustrated that they could not grab the ball and run with it as they do at Casey Fields.
Turnovers were pounced on by Beaconsfield swoopers including Williams, Joel Gibson, Glenn Penglaise, Daniel Mislicki and Abe Roder.
The contest remained a hard fought and even affair for the first 10 minutes of the third term before Williams booted two quick goals after sustained runs from the midfield and broke the game open.
Cranbourne players went defensive and despite efforts to turn the tide from ruckman Matt Linke, Leigh Holt, Robert Beadel and Ryan Davey, the home side continued to exert pressure and stop any flow forward.
Beaconsfield held a match-controlling 37-point lead at the final change.
Cranbourne outscored Beacy in the final term with Matt Foster, who was probably Cranbourne’s best player, creating a good target in attack and finishing with five goals, but the gate had already been shut.
DOVETON turned a four-goal half-time lead over BERWICK into a 97-point belting at the Robinson Reserve.
The Wickers put up a good contest in the first quarter and half, but the match turned into a one-way goal spree after the main break.
Berwick attacked the first quarter with gusto and led by four points at the first change after answering every challenge put to it.
The visitors’ bench was reduced by one after honest defender Adam Dalton was accidentally concussed late in the first term, but the form of David VanDiemen, Warren Berto and teenager Maddison Andrews was top notch and had the Doves coaching staff moving their magnets.
Superb goals to Ryan Hendy, Peter Dye and Michael Henry turned the advantage around in the second quarter that ended with a long after-the-siren major to Ryan Brown that gave the Doves the momentum.
The writing was on the wall shortly after the start of the second half and all the run had gone from the Wickers’ legs.
With Brad Downe holding star spearhead George Gorozidis to three goals and no other avenue to goal, the visitors were kept to one goal for the whole second half as the Doves piled on the pressure, booting another 12 majors.
Hendy booted five goals as did Justin Hill while Shannon Henwood, Callum Pattie and Aaron Henwood were among the Doves best.
KEYSBOROUGH had to fight hard before overcoming a determined challenge from DEVON MEADOWS, by 16 points at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
Coming off a 106-point hiding a fortnight ago, the visitors were without key recruit Aaron Henneman and fellow goalkicker Matt Davey, but steeled themselves against the highly rated Burra and kept at their task.
After a competitive opening 15 minutes, Keysborough slipped away to a three-goal lead and managed to hold an edge on the scoreboard for the rest of the afternoon.
However the Panthers continued to pressure the usually free-flowing Burra midfielders throughout the day and with youngsters including Stefan Baumgartner, Billy Hayes and Justin Corrigan providing drive out of the midfield.
While experienced Keysborough defender Corey Wilkinson blanketed Craig Hunter, the Panthers were able to create mobile scoring avenues through Scott Morrison and Scott Young, who both ended the day with three goals.
At the other end Matthew Freeman was held to two goals by Brett Armitage, but Luke McGuinness, Daniel Morland, Brett Colbert and Clinton King all chipped in with multiple majors to keep the home side in the ascendancy.
NARRE WARREN scored a huge 145-point win over ROC at Fox Road.
The Magpies dominated its opposition on Saturday, with key forward Lee Clark notching up seven goals with support from Danny Brewster and Ryan Stanes who kicked four majors apiece.
The Kangaroos tried to shut down and crowd the forward line after the floodgates opened in the second term, however Magpies coach Matt Shinners manned up the two extra defenders that floated down and ended up with an eight-man forward line for a good portion of the game.
The result was obvious from the second term on, but to the young Kangaroos’ credit, they kept their heads up and battled the game out to the end.
HAMPTON PARK moved to sixth position with an unconvincing 29-point victory over bottom-placed TOORADIN at the Western Port oval.
Tooradin took the game right up to the visitors throughout the scrappy first half and shut down the Redbacks’ attack.
Creative running players led by veteran wingman Chris Hussey and gun recruit David Biagi continued to provide plenty of the ball into attack, but at the long break Hampton Park led by only two points with both sides scoring only four goals for the half.
Tooradin hit the lead with a goal early in the third term.
However dual Redback spearheads Kevin McLean and Shane Moffatt stood up and led from the front with captain Josh Taylor, Ryan Simpson and the Fredericks brothers Linden and Sheldon lifting their work rate to help score what in the end became a comfortable victory.
SOMERVILLE upset PEARCEDALE by 40 points in Nepean League.
While Somerville spearhead Joel Kennedy booted eight majors, the Panthers had a frustrating day in front of goals, booting 2.10 in the final term and ending the afternoon with the same number of scoring shots as their triumphant opposition.
Former Casey Cardinia League players Steven Watson and Daniel Field were among the Panthers’ best.
