Billy Carlyle launches the Wickers forward during their win at Keysborough on Saturday. Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Brad Kingsbury
BEACONSFIELD made hard work of its 12-point victory over Hampton Park on Saturday, always threatening to break away, but never taking full control, despite playing on its home deck.
Star Eagle ruckman Chris Kelf turned the clock back several years, dominating the game for the last three quarters to clearly be the best player on the ground, while Andrew Williams was the difference in attack, booting six goals and creating a hard-leading target all day.
Beaconsfield held sway in a dour opening term, but Hampton Park refused to capitulate and levelled the scores with a Matt Shorey goal on the siren.
The home side shaded the Redbacks around the ground in the second term, entering the half-time break with a 26-point lead, thanks largely to the efforts of Kelf in the midfield and the creative forward work of Williams and youngster Andrew Hunter.
Redbacks’ coach Josh Taylor hurt his already tender ankle in the second quarter, but stayed on the ground to provide leadership.
It was that type of inspiration that saw the visitors come back hard at the Eagles in the third term and trail by only five points at the final change of ends.
Two goals early in the final term steadied the Beaconsfield effort and it was an edge in experience that told the story in the end of a competitive, but unspectacular, match.
Sweeping defender Matthew Dixon and young playmakers Luke Nunan and Brady White were outstanding contributors for Hampton Park, while Shorey and Kevin McLean created good targets with three goals apiece.
The Eagles always looked to have control and most at the ground were waiting for the home side to put the foot down and win by five or six goals, but the Redbacks did not allow that to happen and continued to apply pressure.
That was a concern for Beaconsfield coach Robbie Taylor who said there was plenty of work to do before his side could be considered a genuine threat.
“We’ve got ourselves into a pattern of letting teams kick consecutive goals against us and we did it again,” he lamented.
“We were up by four goals and then they kicked a couple and came at us in the third quarter and grabbed the momentum. I’m struggling to work out how to swing that around at the moment.
“I suppose in the end we fought on and won a close game, so that was a positive and hopefully that will help us as the season goes on.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Burra bruised by Berwick
BERWICK stepped up a gear after an even first half against Keysborough at the Rowley Allen Reserve on Saturday, booting 12 goals to six after the main break to win the game by 61 points.
While the result was not surprising on current form and ladder positions, the appearance of Wicker spearhead Grant Noonan was a shock after he looked to have seriously injured his arm the week before.
Noonan was clearly incapacitated, but still finished with six goals for the game despite some close attention from veteran Burra defender Corey Wilkinson.
Another surprising inclusion in the game was that of burly Keysborough coach Greg Siwes for the first time in a bitterly disappointing season.
Berwick proved too slick across the ground with Adam Dalton, Michael Hannigan, Andrew Tuck and the Robinson brothers Brett and Dale causing Siwes and his assistants headaches.
Key Keysborough forward Tyson King spent some time at centre half-back, while Wilkinson, Kieran Morland, Will Gayfer and Shaun Witherden put in top-class efforts in a forlorn attempt to turn the game for the Burra.
Unfortunately for the home-side supporters, Berwick was simply too good and, with Noonan feeding the ball to talented teenagers in Jake McLardy and Callum Barnett, along with the dominance of full-back Sean Calamatta on Luke McGuinness and King, the contest was over soon after half-time.
Triumphant coach Glenn Dale praised the effort of his side and said the fact that 10 of his players were 21-year-old or under was a massive bonus.
“I’m lot happier than I have been after this week,” he said.
“We played well and I think the Robinson brothers hitting a bit of form is a real positive for us and I’m really pleased with the way our kids are coming on.
“It took us a while to get going, but we did play some good football in the end.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Lions crush wounded Seagulls
PAKENHAM took full toll on an under-strength Tooradin side, handing the Seagulls their worst defeat of 2009 at the Toomuc Reserve on the weekend.
The Seagulls were without star ruckman Steve Arvanitis and gun on-baller Beau Miller and the Lions took advantage to win the one-sided game by 153 points. It was by far Tooradin’s worst performance of the year and a major step backwards after a promising start to the season on the back of several key signings.
Pakenham led by 13 points at quarter time, but then powered away from their hapless opponents with running playmakers John Atwell, Jack O’Rourke and Dean Blake pounding the ball in to grateful forwards led by Daniel Fry (seven goals), Brett Hobson and Simon Ponter (four each).
Assistant coach Chad Liddell had a good battle with Jared Goldsack and was among the Seagulls better players, along with Trent Murray, Michael Hobbs and Clint Setford, but it was a complete mismatch after quarter time.
Again Pakenham had a good spread of goalkickers which was a bonus to a side looking for an edge as it approaches finals, but the opposition was not up to standard on the day.
Lions’ coach Michael Holland acknowledged that but was pleased with his players’ efforts over the afternoon and said that they had not just cruised through after coming off a month of mediocre performances.
“It was a good result in the end, but they were down a little bit with a few players missing,” he said.
“We probably played the best football we’ve played for six weeks so that was pleasing.
“Every side goes through mid-year lulls and it becomes a mental battle more than anything, but we were consistent over the four quarters and that was the most pleasing thing.”
The Lions have a bye next weekend, while Tooradin faces up to winless Keysborough in a bid to put Saturday’s ugly result behind it.
