Redhot Redbacks

By Brad Kingsbury
BERWICK was exposed as a finals pretender after going down by 37 points to a relentless Hampton Park at the Edwin Flack Reserve on Saturday.
In a mustwin match, Berwick allowed Hampton Park’s midfielders first use of the ball, despite lanky Wicker ruckman Tim Joustra winning the majority of tapouts.
Hampton Park kicked with aid of a strong breeze in the first term and led by four goals at the change of ends, but it was the Redbacks’ superb second quarter that proved the difference in the match.
After he proved too strong for John McNamara, Redback spearhead Kerem Baskaya was manned up by Berwick’s David VanDiemen, but again provided a strong marking focal point in attack.
With teammates Linden Fredericks, Ryan Simpson and Dane Rawlings on top in the centre, Baskaya and fellow forwards Scott Gilder and Mitch Whatman created a dangerous combination and helped the Redbacks boot four goals to two into the breeze.
The sixgoal difference at half time was too great for the Wickers, despite them mounting a spirited secondhalf chase led by George Gorozidis, Brad Miles and exciting playmaker Kirk Betts.
Hampton Park proved it was a real challenger to the top sides with the win and moved into fourth place on the ladder, while the Wickers slipped back to ninth and look to have little chance of overtaking those above it on form.
Again the Wickers missed the drive and inspiration of injured coach Ronnie Burns.
The victory was Hampton Park’s fifth in a row, a feat it had not achieved for 10 years and coach Jason Chapple said it set up a big game against league leaders Narre Warren at the Booth Reserve next week.
“I was very happy with our second quarter. We set it up then and the players lifted when it was required. We’re playing some pretty good footy at the moment,” he said.
“We haven’t had many goals kicked against us and that’s been a key, but now we have to lift again and it’s an exciting prospect.
“Five wins in a row is a good effort because we’re not playing duds, but making it six will be a big challenge.”