Lions fire in five

By Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM moved a game clear inside the top five after its second solid win of the season, downing Berwick by six points at the Edwin Flack Reserve on Saturday.
Lions coach Michael Holland described the win as one of the better ones the club had achieved over the past couple of years, given the strikerate at Berwick had been dismal in that time.
“We set ourselves to get the monkey off the back and we did it,” he said.
“We probably should have put them away in the last quarter, but it was just good to have a win down there in the end.”
After a fairly even opening, Berwick took advantage of a breeze and booted away to lead by 22 points at quarter time, thanks to lively play from Mark McLean, Ainsley Betts and big Tim Joustra in the ruck.
The Wickers shot out to a fivegoal lead in the first five minutes of the second quarter and looked to be well on top before a goal blitz from Lions’ spearhead Simon Ponter.
Holland said both sides were a bit undisciplined at times in the first half and it cost goals with the umpires paying several technical decisions in an effort to keep control.
“Then Ponter kicked four goals just before halftime to get us back into the contest,” he said.
The halftime difference was only two points and the game seesawed after the long break with Pakenham having several chances to goal, only to see the ball drift through the behinds.
Finally the Lions fired and turned a sixpoint threequartertime lead into a solid sixpoint win, highlighted by a sevengoal haul to Ponter.
“It was the best game he’s played for the club,” said Holland. “He presented well all day and in the end, when you have a bloke that can kick seven goals, well it could be the difference.”
“Berwick will be alright. When they’ve played together a bit more they will get better for sure.
“This was a very good contest.”
Lincoln Withers, Robert Elston and Joe Allen (who played well on Berwick key John McNamara) joined Ponter among the Lions’ best, while Wickers including McLean, Adam Mott and Jayden Kickett tried hard for their side all day.