By DAVID NAGEL
THE South East Football Netball League (SEFNL) is officially in a log-jam, with six teams tied at the top after another mesmerising round of football on the weekend.
The match-of-the-day on Saturday saw Berwick and Doveton lock horns at Edwin Flack Reserve, a game which had more spite and physical confrontation than any this year.
In the end, Berwick triumphed by 24 points after a last-quarter flurry that knocked the stuffing out of the brave Doves.
The injury toll, well it mounted for both sides on the weekend.
Doveton went in without its number-one trump-card, ruckman Russell Gabriel, who missed with a niggling hamstring, and lost Ricky Hayes (ankle) and Jarrad Boumann (hand) during a rugged first half.
Boumann’s injury occurred in an altercation with first-gamer Steve Sigeti, which left the Wicker with a broken nose and Boumann accepting a two-game suspension for his troubles.
Michael Harold (concussion) and Jayden Joyce (ribs) were other Wickers who would have been feeling a little sick and sorry on Sunday morning.
Paul Vanschilt was the star for Berwick, kicking five, while Michael Riseley and Jo West were terrific in defence.
Jake Dermott and versatile tall Mitch Davies were best for the Doves.
Wiser heads prevailed for Cranbourne, the Eagles lucky to escape with a three-point victory over ROC at Casey Fields.
There was never more than six-points in this one at any change and the Kangaroos looked the winners after Luke Smaluch put them nine-points ahead with just minutes left on the clock.
But costly turnovers killed the visitors, Tim Smith and Shaun Sparks converting to save the third-placed Eagles from slipping to sixth on the ladder.
Smaluch and Blair Allan finished with three for the Kangas, while Cranbourne champ Marc Holt matched that total but was well held by youngster James Sloothaak.
It may have looked comfortable in the end but Pakenham had to fight hard for its 22-point victory over Tooradin at Westernport Oval.
The Lions went in as warm favourites against the winless Seagulls but it became apparent quite early that the Lions were in for a tough day at the office.
Tooradin matched motors with the Lions in the first quarter, before the visitors gradually pulled clear, extending their one-point margin at quarter time by single digits for the remainder of the match.
Jake Smith, Damien Holmes and surprise packet Jack Anning kicked three each for the Lions while Julian Suarez matched the output at the other end.
Hampton Park produced possibly its best performance of the year, despite going down to Narre Warren by 75 points at Kalora Park.
These contests have been absolute bloodbaths over the years, the Magpies winning by 181 and 188 points last year, but the Redbacks were more competitive this time around.
The visitors worked hard to trail by just 30 points at half time, the margin staying the same at the final break after both teams kicked 5.1 in the third term.
The Magpies booted nine goals in the last quarter to run away with the prize.
Kerem Baskaya kicked eight for the Magpies, while Kane White kicked three for the Redbacks after being moved off Baskaya in the opening term.
