By Mark Gullick
WHILE a small creek separates the townships of Berwick and Beaconsfield, the gap between the two teams on the field on Saturday was as wide as an ocean.
Berwick’s dominant first-half paved the way for a massive 75-point win over its bitter rivals at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The highly-anticipated game was over by half-time, with Berwick amassing 11 goals to Beaconsfield’s solitary major.
The first quarter opened with a tricky wind gusting across the ground.
Berwick landed the first blow when Vergim Faik kicked a superbly judged long goal from the opening bounce.
Beaconsfield attacked over the ensuing minutes, but failed to find the big sticks as they wasted several chances.
The early phases of the game were physical and the umpires paid numerous free kicks against players attacking the man too vigorously.
Nathan Page added another goal for Berwick from the boundary line and the Wickers added a further two goals to hold sway by 22 points.
The wind, which played a significant factor in the opening term, subsided significantly in the second term and the game opened up.
Berwick dominated the second term with seven goals to one.
Nathan Waite kicked four goals for the term as the Wickers ran rampant in front of the stunned crowd.
When Beaconsfield controlled the ball, which was rare, it was stagnant and was forced to chip the ball to advance forward.
The issue was that when they turned the ball over, which was too frequent, Berwick was in a position where it could easily attack the goals.
Berwick coach Dean Rice was pleased with the victory.
“It was a big game,” he said.
“Obviously there is a rivalry between the two clubs and to our guys’ credit they played pretty well.”
Berwick’s ability to use the ball in the difficult conditions was an important factor.
“That’s our strength; we try to run the ball and use it,” Rice said.
“Our backline is also one of our strengths this year and they have been able to cover the ball so well, which creates a lot of rebounding opportunities for us.”
Captain Jason Kelly led the defensive unit superbly, which halted most of Beaconsfield’s forward forays.
Brad Fowler was prominent through the midfield, and Kristian Meredith, Jason Rahilly and Ahmet Zijai were excellent.
Nathan Waite and Andrew Morozoff converted the up-field work.
“I don’t think (Nathan) played all that well, but he still kicked seven goals,” Rice said.
“He was complemented by ‘Mozza’. When they’re both on song, they’re pretty hard to stop.”
Berwick has shrugged off its sluggishness which has plagued the club in recent years and there is a genuine excitement around the place.
“They are all keen,” Rice said.
“Our attendance at training has been fantastic and everyone wants to be part of something that’s going to happen around Berwick soon, whether it’s this year or next year. The players have got themselves up for every game. Our reserves had 11 guys that played senior footy last year.”
Without Daniel Calteri, who was so vital in the Eagles win against Doveton in Round Five, Beaconsfield struggled to exert any presence in its forward half.
Eagles hardman Damien Swaja worked hard on a dark day for his team.
Jesse Linkins, Mark McManus and Nick Smith tried hard.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NARRE WARREN V DEVON MEADOWS
NARRE Warren produced another famous last quarter blitz to secure the points over a dogged Devon Meadows at Kalora Park.
The Magpies kicked seven goals to four during that period to finally break the determined Panthers and run out 29-point winners.
At half-time, Devon Meadows led the contest by nine points over the reigning premiers.
Devon Meadows is a physical team and that characteristic kept the Panthers in the game.
“They are a very physical side and all power to them, they were very good,” Magpies coach Chris Toner said.
“We took a while to get into our stride and once we did, we were okay. We’re a different side to what we have been, we’re very, very young and we’re just going to continue to get better.”
Michael Collins carried over his strong interleague form with the rugged midfielder brilliant in the clinches and efficient when he found space.
Ben King, an interleague star, played another strong game in defence, while young winger Josh Tonner and Aaron McIver (five goals) featured in the team’s best players.
“(McIver’s) efforts were fantastic, but he didn’t get any rewards in the first half,” Toner said.
“In the second half, things came together for him. He’s not a big guy, but he’s a very good, hard footballer.”
Reliable duo Michael McGill and Chris Collins played well.
Despite the loss, Devon Meadows coach Rod Keogh was pleased with the effort.
“At the moment, the boys are chipping away and we’re seeing some improvement,” he said.
“We think the wheel will turn before too long.”
Keogh said Narre Warren highlighted a few areas that his team needed to work on.
“They had more scoring shots than us,” he said.
“I suppose the scoreboard could have been worse for us, but in general field play, we thought we were right in the game. We haven’t got a group that you would say is a physical side, but they all put in a very genuine effort.”
Versatile veteran Daniel Verlado was Devon Meadows’ best player.
Tom Cotton and Michael Bain were busy around the park and the colossus Adam Jago was influential.
Tim Saunders and captain Jesse DeHey were solid and Steven McInnes kicked three goals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:DOVETON V HAMPTON PARK
DOVETON’S running power provided the impetus for the upset eight-point win over arch-rivals Hampton Park at Robinson Oval.
With each team celebrating milestones for favorites sons (Doveton’s Matt Miller and Hampton Park’s Chris Hussey and Patty Clish all reached their 250th game), there was an extra incentive to gain the premiership points.
As the teams lined-up, two opposing playing philosophies clashed.
“They had the aerial dominance, they’ve got some big guys that can take marks,” Doveton coach Mark Ladgrove said.
“But we had guys that could run and spread and that balanced out all day. In the end, we might have had a bit more legs.”
Hampton Park was wasteful in the opening term and had the Redbacks kicked for goal with more prudence, they would have led by more than six points at the first change.
Doveton’s running game kicked in during the second term and with Peter Pullen and Ryan Hendy working coherently in the forward line, the Doves kicked four goals to three.
On the back of another winning quarter, Doveton held a five-point lead at the final change.
With the game in the balance, Doveton was able to hold off Hampton Park and kick crucial goals that kept the Redbacks just out of reach on the scoreboard.
Doveton’s 14 point lead during the final term was reduced to two points, but the Doves held their nerve and kicked a late goal.
“It was a really good win,” Ladgrove said.
“I was proud of the boys’ efforts. It was a great day – good crowd. There is always a lot of feeling between the clubs, and to come out on top was a great effort.”
The Doves reclaimed the highly-desired O’Brien-Batten Cup, which they lost in Round 10 last year.
“There was a huge crowd, but you could’ve heard a pin drop due to the fact the game was on edge all day,” he said.
“It could have gone either way and lucky for us, we fell in, in the end.”
Clint Wilson’s successful return to Doveton continued with the towering ruckman influencing the contest.
“He’s that link-up player that we can go through,” Ladgrove said.
“He has a presence about him and was very good.”
Pullen kicked six goals, Ryan Pearson was impressive through the midfield, and Chris Rodriquez was a rock in defence.
Jason McCloy and Nathan Wilson performed well in their roles for the Doves.
The win lifts Doveton to fifth place and gives the Doves confidence to mix it with the league’s better teams.
