Dove Nathan Wilson proves a little too eager in this contest against Magpie forward Lee Clark at Fox Road on Saturday. 20415 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Brad Kingsbury
NARRE WARREN displayed its renowned never-say-die spirit to claw back to the front and defeat Doveton by three points after the Doves hit the lead for the first time in the classic battle during the final term on Saturday.
The big Fox Road crowd was as drained as the players from both sides after the final siren of the Casey Cardinia league round 13 match, which proved once and for all that the Doves were absolutely a genuine chance of pushing the top two for the premiership in 2008.
Doveton kicked with the breeze but was quickly put under pressure by the home side, which wasted many opportunities to seal a match-winning lead in the first term, booting 3.10.
The visitors responded in the second quarter and matched their opponents with the half-time margin 20 points the Magpies’ way, the only blemish being the report of Doveton captain Clint Wilson for abusive language towards the umpire late in the quarter.
Doveton came out after the half-time break and took the game on, booting four goals to three.
Ryan Hendy moved forward and created a dangerous attack with Ryan Brown, who goaled late in the term to reduce the Magpies’ margin to 13 points at three-quarter time, setting up a desperate final term.
Both coaches implored their charges to lift and it was the Doves who responded better at the start of the quarter with Ryan Pearson slotting through two goals in two minutes to give his side its first taste of the lead for the day at the 11-minute mark of the term.
A behind to the Magpies levelled the scores and then the battle began in earnest with a brilliant major to Michael Collins quickly answered by a similarly sublime effort from Hendy keeping the scores locked up.
The intensity of the contest began to take its toll on the players and the Magpies edged ahead with two behinds before Lee Clark marked and goaled to give his side some breathing space.
A late goal to Brown – his third for the day – reduced the margin, but it was too late and Narre Warren hung on to win a wonderful game of football.
Both sides boasted winners on the day with the Doves’ better players including Nathan Wilson, Michael Henry, Kory Grant, Daryl Thomas and Hendy.
The Magpies’ best were Brad Scalzo, Ryan Stanes, Clay Peresso, Michael McGill and youngster Jackson Parker, however the downside was a hip injury to classy ball winner Nick Scanlon in the third term.
DEVON MEADOWS capitulated in a one-sided last-quarter to go down to BEACONSFIELD by 65 points at Glover Reserve.
The Panthers had battled manfully to trail by only three points at the last change of ends, but were overrun by their quicker and surer opposition in a result that did not reflect the true effort applied by the home side.
Coach Steve O’Brien was short and extremely sharp after the game, letting his players know they had blown a perfect chance to take a higher-ranked scalp.
Beaconsfield ground its way to a 16-point lead at half-time but the game was still in the balance, and with only three points separating the sides at the final change Beaconsfield took control with Andrew Williams leading the way.
Williams ended the afternoon with nine goals to his credit while Henneman snared five for the Panthers.
A change of coach did not produce a change of fortunes for BERWICK as HAMPTON PARK produced a dominant four-quarter effort to trounce the Booth Reserve visitors by 114 points.
The Redbacks dominated as they reinforced their claim to a top-five ladder position.
New Berwick coach Daniel Charles looked to the future by playing five under 18s in the senior side, but Hampton Park, with three juniors of their own also on the field, was in no mood for charity and slammed on seven opening-term goals to one, setting the scene for a big victory.
The Redbacks dominated the rest of the game, winning a high percentage of their possessions at the stoppages and around the midfield through Ryan Simpson, Josh Taylor, David Biagi and youngster Dale Glazier.
George Gorozidis was among the Wickers’ best, booting four of his side’s six goals from limited opportunities and giving another one off.
PAKENHAM had a big win over TOORADIN at the Toomuc Reserve.
Lions coach Dan O’Loughlin conceded his players had done what was required, however there were still areas in which his side could, and must, improve before the coming finals campaign.
The game between the undefeated league leader and bottom-placed Seagulls was a lacklustre affair, with the Lions taking advantage of the breeze and putting eight goals between the two sides at quarter-time.
Tooradin coach Cristian O’Brien retained a positive approach and told his playmakers, including Michael Hobbs, Steve Arvanitis and Rod Cochrane, to maintain their attacking style, but the class factor was always going to be the difference and the visitors had made little headway from then on.
KEYSBOROUGH cruised to a 49-point win over ROC at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
The Burra jumped out to a 26-point lead at the first change and the Kangaroos were resigned to chasing and playing catch-up football for the rest of the afternoon.
Keysborough had come off a three-game losing streak and needed the victory, with coach Greg Siwes leading the way in his first senior game of the season.
The young ROC side underlined its gradual improvement by remaining focused, but the margin blew out to 35 points at three-quarter time and the Burra cruised home to a comfortable victory in the last quarter.
In Nepean league action, veteran full forward Simon Goosey proved the difference in DROMANA’s successful challenge against PEARCEDALE, booting seven goals and lifting his season’s tally to 57.
The Tigers started fast and led by 35 points at the first change, maintaining their advantage to score by five goals, despite the best efforts of the Panthers to bridge the gap.
Burly Panther Kerem Baskaya booted six goals in a great individual game, while Shane Urbans and Chris O’Dell were among the day’s best performers.
