Lions eat Seagulls and chips

By Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM overcame Tooradin’s high possession style of game on the wide expanses of the Major Recreation Reserve, to register a comfortable 69point win on Saturday.
The Seagulls’ chipandstop game was used in an attempt to stifle the Lions’ running game and upset their balance, but was ineffective against the league leaders whose edge in class was the difference in the end.
In a surprise move, Tooradin coach Dan O’Loughlin and his assistant Beau Miller returned from injury to line up in the game, despite both casting doubts on their fitness the week before.
Miller was among the best players, but the presence of the star duo did not affect the outcome.
The Lions were without leading goal kicker Simon Ponter, but included talented Gippsland Power youngsters Tyson Goldsack and Ricky Delphine, who each played outstanding games.
The Lions bolted away to a fivegoal lead at quarter time and the damage appeared to be done with Troy Willis breaking free at halfforward and Joe Allen continuing his great recent form across halfback.
The second quarter was Tooradin’s best, but the halftime deficit was still a daunting 34 points and the home side remained in control.
Despite the Seagulls’ attempts to frustrate the Pakenham ballgetters, when there was a turnover the Lions continued to make their opponents pay, moving out by 39 points at the final change and then stepping into overdrive in the last quarter.
Pakenham playmakers Lincoln Withers and coach Michael Holland sat the final quarter out, but the Lions were still able to boot nine goals to four and cruise to a comfortable victory.
Willis finished with six goals and Goldsack four, while Evan Broadbent and Glenn Pearson were also prominent for the winners.
Holland said it had been a difficult day due to the style of play, but a good win none the less.
“It was good to get out of it without injuries, but it was a frustrating game,” he said.
“There was a lot of chipping around and you started getting dizzy by the end of it, but that was the way the match was played and you have to adjust. We knew they would play that game.
“I thought some of our players really stood up and I thought Tyson (Goldsack) and Ricky (Delphine) stood up well against the bigger bodies in senior football.”
Tooradin was well served by Tom Hallinan, Ben Disney, Travis Boucher and former Lion Tom O’Loughlin.