Cranbourne’s Leigh Holt sizes up his options in the Eagles’ seven-point loss to Keysborough at Rowley Allen Reserve on Saturday. 21365 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Brad Kingsbury
HAMPTON PARK sealed its place in the 2008 final five with a 39-point win over DEVON MEADOWS at the Glover Reserve on Saturday.
The victory confirmed an elimination final booking for the Redbacks, and provided the visitors with a good hit-out under their belt prior to the business end of the year.
As far as the Panthers were concerned, the game was another small step in the right direction according to coach Steve O’Brien.
“At one stage in the second quarter we were 20 points down, and we worked our way back in front. That’s something we haven’t done this year and that’s a sign we are moving forward,” he said.
The home side opened up well and surprised their rivals, with Matt Davey and Craig Hunter providing dangerous options in attack.
Devon Meadows led by eight points at the first change. That should have been a bigger margin, but for several wayward shots at goal.
The Redbacks took advantage of that in the second term with play makers including Ryan Simpson, Linden Fredericks, Josh Taylor and youngster Luke Nunan lifting their work rate to see their side in the lead at the main change.
The pressure was on in the third term and again the Panthers came at their opponents, who had trouble countering the run of Dale Alanis, Jesse Dehey and Stef Baumgartner.
The home side led by four points at the final change, and was poised to cause a major upset.
However that threat was quickly snuffed out by the Redbacks.
Led by Mitch Whatman and Kevin McLean in attack, Hampton Park slammed on seven goals to one in the final term to break the Panthers spirit and seal their finals fate.
Davey finished with five goals for the Panthers, with Daniel Mullen and Craig Hunter among the day’s best. O’Brien acknowledged Hampton Park’s ability to capitalise on their opportunity.
KEYSBOROUGH toughed out a confidence-boosting seven-point win over CRANBOURNE at the Rowley Allen Reserve, defying their fast-finishing rivals.
The effort confirmed the Burra’s claim on third ladder position and gave coach Greg Siwes a boost on the eve of the finals series.
Cranbourne was behind the eight-ball from the start after losing three key running players in Troy Datson, Ray George and Justin Shields to injury.
The return of Callum Lester to the side was a plus but the Burra looked the more accomplished side from the first bounce and, led by the run of Clinton King and Shaun Daly, kicked away to a 14-point lead at the first change.
Luke McGuinness confirmed his recent return to top form and created a strong-marking target in attack that saw the home side extend their advantage to 21 points at the long break.
Cranbourne staged a fightback in the third term with Lester, Robert Beadel and Ryan Davey leading the charge.
The Eagles reduced the margin to 17 points at three-quarter time and kept coming in the final term, moving to within a kick of the Burra late in the game.
McGuinness proved the difference and slotted through his eighth goal for the game with only a few minutes to go, giving his side some breathing space and the momentum to hold off Cranbourne’s gallant challenge.
The rigours of a tough season looked to have taken its toll on Cranbourne star Marc Holt, who looked proppy for most of the day and was well held by William Gayfer.
DOVETON triumphed over ROC by 66 points in a scrappy game that ebbed and flowed at the Robinson Reserve.
The result was never in doubt after the Doves steamrolled their young rivals in the first quarter, booting six goals to one.
However to the Kangaroos’ credit, they continued to fight it out and provide more than nuisance value to the home side as it prepares for a finals assault.
With the half-time gap at 42 points, the Doves had the opportunity to crush their opponents but determined young Kangaroos including Dwayne Scott, Nick Long and Steve Hawkins held their nerve to keep the scoreboard from blowing out.
ROC had no answers for the class of Aaron Henwood, Callum Pattie, Ryan Hendy and Michael Henry.
However there was a cost to the fourth-placed side with youngster Dave Welling sustaining what looked to be a serious knee injury.
Doves coach Tom Hallinan was pragmatic afterwards, suggesting that his side had performed well overall and done what was expected to beat an opponent it should have.
“It was a bit of a scrap at times, which can happen at this time of year against the lower sides,” he said.
“ROC went negative at the start, but we plugged away at our game plan and all in all I was pretty pleased with the effort.
PAKENHAM was simply too composed against a determined young BEACONSFIELD side, taking home the Highway Cup after downing the Eagles by 27 points at the Perc Allison oval.
The Eagles drew the bye in round 18, and their season was wound up a week early after news from Glover Reserve filtered through that Hampton Park had won and secured fifth position.
PEARCEDALE and LANGWARRIN previewed next weekend’s Nepean league elimination final by fighting out a last-gasp draw in the final home-and-away round of the season.
The low-scoring game between the two traditional foes ebbed and flowed until a goal in the last few seconds to the Panthers tied up the scores, setting the scene for a huge battle when hostilities resume in the cut-throat final next Sunday at Rye.
Star Panther Luke Damon kicked four goals in the absence of suspended full forward Kerem Baskaya, while Gavin O’Hayan, Leigh Bidey and Luke Bozic were in superb touch.
