Miners strike a winner

By Marc McGowan
THE Berwick Miners posted their first triumph of the season in emphatic fashion on Saturday with a 43-0 victory over the Frankston-based Southern Seahawks in Croydon.
Both teams entered the clash winless, but the Miners were heavy favourites against the traditional Gridiron Victoria easybeats.
Only a lone touchdown separated the sides at quarter-time – in Berwick’s favour – but the floodgates opened in the second term.
The Miners led 22-0 at half-time and added another score in the third before running out easy winners.
Quarterback Sam Walker tossed touchdown passes to rookie wide receiver Rick Brown (two) and veteran Scott Sunderland and ran in another himself.
Sunderland and fellow running back Tom Pitt also ran in touchdowns.
Brown connected on all three of his extra-point kicks, while Lee Lindsay and Sunderland managed two-point conversions after running touchdowns to Pitt and Walker respectively.
Berwick coach Mel Martin praised Brown’s and Sunderland’s offensive displays and lauded his entire defensive unit, particularly Donte Newton, Dan Smith and Steve Baker.
Martin was pleased to see his side pick up its maiden win, but admitted his players still need to improve.
“We were still a bit rusty because we had bye in between that game and the last game, but it was a step in the right direction,” he said.
“We dropped a number of passes which we shouldn’t have during the game on Saturday and we basically just need to work better together as a unit.
“We set ourselves goals in getting 40 points as a minimum and to not allow them to score, so we achieved those two goals.
“But, primarily, it was just about getting ourselves a little bit of confidence in what we’re doing and just reasserting that we’re on the right track.”
The Miners return to Sydney Pargeter Reserve on Sunday at 10.30am to host the third-placed Bay City Buccaneers.
“I went and saw them play on Sunday. They’re two and two at the moment, so it is an opportunity to bridge that gap,” Martin said.