Beaconsfield’s Abe Roder pulls in a strong mark in front of his Keysborough opponent, but he was unable to stop the Burra from recording its first win of the year onSaturday. 33299 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Brad Kingsbury
Casey-Cardinia League review – round 12
AN under-strength DOVETON held on to record a three-point win over an even younger and injury-depleted HAMPTON PARK at the wind-swept Robinson Reserve on Saturday.
The Doves avoided what would have been the biggest upset of the season and retained the coveted O’Brien-Batten Cup until their next meeting.
Both sides were hit hard by injury with Michael Henry, Danny Casset and Callum Pattie among those missing from the Doves and keys Kevin McLean, Matt Shorey, Linden Fredericks and Dean Jameison out of the Redbacks line-up.
The Doves kicked with a strong wind and piled on 4.5 to nothing in the opening term, prompting some supporters to predict a major blow-out.
Someone forgot to tell the youth-laden Redbacks however, and that’s not how the afternoon panned out.
On the back of teenage debutantes Matt McInroy-Howard and Roi Manaog, the visitors applied pressure and turned the game into a scrap.
Regular reserves player Jamie Rondinella stepped up along with Nathan Dawes, Ryan Simpson and another youngster in Brady White and the Redbacks stormed home with 5.7 to 1.3 in the last quarter, to just miss taking a huge scalp.
Redbacks coach Josh Taylor was proud of his young players and said the future was building nicely.
The Doves also relied on its under-18 talent, including Cory Phillips and another Hendy in 17-year-old Travis, cousin of Ryan, in the weekend line-up.
Among the home side’s best players were Daryl Thomas, Daniel Zarjac, Russell Gabriel and captain Justin Hill.
PAKENHAM coach Michael Holland said he was just happy to come away with the four points and no injuries after a torrid game against DEVON MEADOWS at the Glover Reserve.
The Lions hung on to win by 15 points, despite being outscored against a strong breeze in the final term.
Devon Meadows started well, but the Lions played brilliantly against the breeze and led by one point at the first break.
They turned that into 29 points at half-time and, despite an improved effort from the Panthers, held a healthy 19-point advantage at the final break.
The home side was down to one fit interchange player in the last quarter, but dug deep in front of their home crowd.
Devon Meadows came home really hard against the wind in the final term and coach Steve O’Brien said he didn’t know whether to be happy or sad with his side’s typical back-to-the-wall fight.
“It was a case of mixed emotions. I was disappointed with losing, but extremely proud of the way the boys stuck at it against a top side,” he said.
“We seem to attack the big games really well.”
Captain Jesse Dehey was inspirational in the midfield for the Panthers, while Guy Chisnall and Daniel Rigg were also in great nick.
Pakenham spearhead Daniel Fry was well held and Panthers centre half-back Andrew Cotton produced his best game for the year to shade a series of opponents including Jake Matthews, Simon Ponter and Adam Cook.
On the plus side for the victors was the performance of captain Jared Goldsack, Anthony Young and ruckman Jeremy Everett.
In a remarkably high-scoring game, despite inclement and breezy conditions at Fox Road, NARRE WARREN defeated TOORADIN by 65 points to gain a vital percentage boost in the quest for third place on the ladder.
The Magpies kicked against the wind in the first term and Tooradin moved the ball well with Rory Gilliatte, Beau Miller and ruckman Steve Arvanitis maintaining pressure to see them out to a 21-point lead at the first change.
However the Magpies made short work of that in the second term and reversed the situation, taking a 17-point lead into half-time.
Steady defender Jarrod Anderson created drive, while youngsters Jackson Parker, Ben Wragg, Mark Lee and Joel Broadhurst worked hard to wrest the advantage.
The game became a dogfight in the third term with the desperate home side keeping the Seagulls in check.
Tooradin tried valiantly, but when dominant Magpie midfield star Michael Collins moved forward and booted four goals in the final term, the floodgates opened and the 13-point three-quarter-time lead became a 10-goal-plus hiding that did not do the visitors’ effort justice on the scoreboard.
A highlight for the Seagulls was a six-goal haul to former AFL player Chad Liddell, while Narre Warren shared their 21 majors around 13 players.
Winning coach Matt Shinners was very happy with his side’s overall effort against an improved opponent.
BERWICK made use of a strong breeze in the final term against ROC to finish strongly and record a seven-point win after trailing all day.
The match, on a wet and chopped up Edwin Flack Reserve, was a battle of strength and wills all afternoon with the home side and pre-match favourites starting slowly and then being forced to chase their under-rated, but determined, rivals to the end.
Star Wicker forward Jason Heath was best afield with four goals, while spearhead Grant Noonan also finished the day with four majors.
KEYSBOROUGH held firm against a steady breeze to seal the eight-point triumph over a gallant young BEACONSFIELD side with a Luke McGuinness goal 30 minutes into the tense final term, after leading all day.
McGuinness booted four goals for the winners, while Cley Bertoncello finished with five for the Eagles.
In Nepean League PEARCEDALE continued its recent winning streak with a 61-point belting of TYABB, consolidating its position in the top five.
