THE all-important double chance will be decided after this weekend’s final round, but Cranbourne put itself in the box seat to play at least two finals with a grinding 28-point victory over Beaconsfield and grab third spot at Casey Fields on Saturday.
The visitors kicked with the strong wind in the opening term and shot away to a 21-point lead thanks to three goals from star forward Andrew Williams, together with a dominant effort from ruckman Chris Kelf.
However Cranbourne answered in the second quarter and should have been further in front than seven points at the long break, but for inaccuracy at goals.
Beaconsfield blew its chance to amass a decent lead in the third quarter, again through inaccuracy at goal.
It kicked 2.6 to two goals straight for the term and the 11-point margin at three-quarter time was never going to be enough if the home side used the wind to advantage.
Cranbourne did just that and kicked two quick goals to wrest the momentum and then continued the effort to record a solid win.
Beaconsfield defender Kane Airdrie shaded key Cranbourne forward Marc Holt on the day, but it was the running attack of Matthew Fletcher, Leigh Holt, Brad Coller and Michael Gersbeck that created the avenues to goal that sealed the result.
For Beaconsfield, Williams was outstanding with five goals, while Abe Roder, Daniel Mislicki, Kelf and Lachlan Oakley, who played in the midfield, were all among the better performers on the day.
It was a typically workmanlike victory from Cranbourne and coach Doug Koop was pleased with the even effort of his group.
“It was a shocking wind and those conditions can throw up plenty of problems,” he said.
“It was a real tough win. Beaconsfield was honest, but probably just lacked a bit of strength through the midfield.
“When we follow instructions we’re a pretty reasonable side and we get the results we want. We worked a better forward zone in the last quarter, kicked a couple of early goals and got our tails up.”
Burra resists Kanga lunge
A LATE shot for goal by ROC defender Andrew Logan against Keysborough missed its target, leaving the fast-finishing Kangaroos five points adrift of the home side when the final siren blew seconds later.
Logan’s kick would have drawn the game had it scored full points, which would have seen ROC steal two premiership points after trailing the Burra from the first bounce at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
Keysborough continued its vastly improved late-season form and was well in control of the game at half-time, leading by 41 points with Clinton King, Matthew Freeman and Shaun Witherden dominating at the stoppages. However a change came over the game during the third term with the visitors upping their work rate through the superb run of Greg Tivendale, Ash Comer and the grunt of Craig Eagleton in the centre.
The margin was still 33 points to the Burra at the final change, but the home side was hamstrung with only the bare 18 left to contest the last quarter due to injuries.
ROC coach Kris Fletcher threw caution to the wind as the Burra tried to block up its defence and the margin was reduced to only six points with a minute to play, thanks to several late goals due to Keysborough errors.
It was a free kick to Eagleton who was unable to take it that saw Logan take the late shot at goal and then the siren sound shortly after the ball was returned to play.
Keysborough coach Greg Siwes said that while the game was a good contest, his side would have been unlucky to lose.
“We played three good quarters, but I was down to 18 on the bench in the last and they played well and really came at us,” he said.
“The players have got a bit of confidence now and I thought we were the better side over more of the game.”
On the downside, key forward Tyson King will likely miss the last game after reinjuring an ankle.
Lions lope to lazy win
PAKENHAM coach Michael Holland was unimpressed by his side’s effort, despite a 56-point victory over Hampton Park at the Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions are two weeks away from the finals but, according to Holland, still have some work to do before they can hope for success.
“It was lazy football,” he said.
“We went back to some bad habits and that was disappointing because we have been building (towards the finals) well over the last few weeks.”
The home side booted with the strong breeze, but was inaccurate, kicking 3.11 to one behind in the opening term.
A scrappy game developed and while the Lions maintained control, only four goals had been scored at half-time and, as a spectacle, the contest was underwhelming.
A five-goal third quarter from Pakenham put the result to rest and the game petered out as Hampton Park players started to contemplate the end of a tough season.
The Redbacks better players included Linden Fredericks, Brady White and Ryan Simpson, while Lion Dean Blake continued his excellent 2009 form on a wing and Ryan Cassidy, Clint Walker and Daniel Fry, with three goals, also presented well for the victors.
Holland said that the players had to adapt better than they did on the day.
“It was the worst conditions we’ve had all year, but that’s not an excuse, we just didn’t play well,” he said.
“I wasn’t impressed. They kicked goals against us in the third quarter and I thought they were some of the easiest goals we’ve given up all year.”
One big positive for the second-placed Lions was the performance of debutante Michael Taurua who came up from the under-18s after the withdrawal of Brett Hobson and Holland admitted that it gave him another option as finals approached.
“There are spots up for grabs. Some players will come back into the side when they’re fit and nobody’s spot is nailed down yet,” he said.
Benefits of top-two finish in the balance
The top-four teams in West Gippsland netball are all fully aware of the extraordinary benefits of finishing top-two at the end of the season.
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