By David Nagel
Berwick Springs has kept its faint finals hopes alive in Outer East Women’s Division One football with a commanding 7.3.45 to 1.4.10 victory over Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve on Sunday.
The composition of the six-team competition means all teams front each other three times throughout the season, and this was the third meeting between the Titans and Lions this year.
Pakenham prevailed in the opening two contests in hard-fought affairs, but it was the Titans who took hold of this one from the outset.
The Titans played strong, hard, team football, winning the clearance battle and putting immense pressure on the Lions’ defensive unit.
The visitors thoroughly deserved their 14-point lead at quarter time, with Jess George, Georgia Kristalyn, Megan Witchell and Felicity Jouvelet building that margin to 18 at the major interval.
Pakenham had the better of the third quarter, cutting the margin to 11 at three-quarter-time and threatened a last-quarter comeback.
But the Titans put the foot down even further, finishing off in fine style with a 4.0 to 0.0 final term to walk away with a much-deserved 35-point victory.
The Titans spread the load evenly up forward with Abbey Worland kicking two goals and George, Sheridan Holland, Jouvelet, Witchell and Kim Emile chiming in with a goal apiece.
Courtney Stephens kicked the only six-pointer for the Lions, who had Courtney Karayannis, Chloe Nagel, Amanda Hobba and Tianah Vandesteeg in good form around the ground.
The Titans are now just two games outside the top four, and play fourth-placed Olinda ferny Creek this week.
Pakenham, now with some injury concerns, take on bottom-placed Monbulk at Monbulk.
Olinda Ferny Creek has claimed its biggest scalp of the season, rolling reigning-premier Upwey-Tecoma by six points in a tense battle at Upwey.
The Bloods burst out of the blocks, kicking 3.1 to 2.0 in a high-scoring first term, before the Tigers fought back to lead by two points at half time.
Olinda regained ascendency in the third, kicking 1.4 to 0.0, to take an eight-point lead to the final change.
The Tigers gave everything they could, but the Bloods held on to score their biggest victory of the season.
Olivia Edwards, Olive Kelly, Amalija Kostich and Claudia Pitts kicked a goal each for Olinda, while Dakota Roach snagged two for the Tigers.
Claire Hyett, Chloe Kanally, Anja Hulston and Anna Hughson were best for the winners.
And Healesville remains undefeated after a 63-point victory over Monbulk.
The ladder leaders were brilliant early, kicking 4.3 to 0.0 in the first term to stamp their class on proceedings.
Star-performer Paula Pavic was terrific for Healesville with three goals, while Ishka-belle Stock kicked two and Cassy Wilsmore was in fine form around the ground.
Maddi Dodd, Josie Ford and Indy Bakker were best for the bottom-placed Hawks.
OE Women Results R11: Healesville 8.15.63 def Monbulk 0.0.0, Upwey Tecoma 3.5.23 def Olinda Ferny Creek 4.5.29, Pakenham 1.4.10 def by Berwick Springs 7.3.45.
Ladder: Healesville 44, Upwey Tecoma 32, Pakenham 24, Olinda Ferny Creek 20, Berwick Springs 12, Monbulk 0.
Fixture R12: Healesville (1) v Upwey Tecoma (2) – 10.30am, Monbulk (6) v Pakenham (3) – 4.45pm, Berwick Springs (5) v Olinda Ferny Creek (4) – 4.45pm.
