By Mark Gullick
NARRE WARREN rebounded with an impressive 65-point win over Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.
Both sides were coming off big losses the previous round, with Pakenham being trounced by 20 goals by Berwick, while Narre Warren was overcome by Cranbourne to the tune of 57 points.
“We have nothing to be complacent about … and every reason to play at our absolute best,” Narre Warren coach Chris Toner said.
“We had a bit of redemption to get as well. (The players) feel they are worthy of being a top-three side and they’ve gone out there keen to make it happen.”
The opening term was an entertaining spectacle.
Narre Warren scored the first goal after Aaron McIver converted from a Pakenham mistake, which was quickly proceeded by a smart goal to Jackson Parker.
Chris Smith found Adam Cook for Pakenham’s first major and the Lions settled, with Jason Williams kicking a running goal.
McIver dumped Pakenham captain Luke Walker, which led to several Lions remonstrating with the Magpies’ forward.
Magpies captain Michael Collins held a strong-contested mark and cleverly dribbled the ball to Parker, who ran into an open goal and kicked truly.
Play was halted as the umpires conferred, which resulted in McIver being sent off the field for his hit on Walker.
Cook added his second goal before the Magpies hit back with four quick goals, two of those by wingman Josh Tonna.
Paul Gramc kicked a late goal for Pakenham, which lowered the Lions deficit to 17 points at the first break.
It was a strange atmosphere in the opening term; the action-packed play was met with ambivalence by the crowd, which formed a hushed throng.
A light shower set-in during the second term, and Pakenham undertook a series of earnest attacking moves.
The Magpies were able to repel the majority of those forays and outscored the Lions by three goals to two to hold a 22-point half-time lead.
Toner was aware that it wasn’t a match-winning lead, especially after it held a similar margin the previous week against Cranbourne, only to see his side overrun.
His players responded with a brilliant quarter that sealed the win.
Goals to Parker, McIver, Harvey, Collins and Wragg (twice) gave Narre Warren a 70-point margin at the last change.
Pakenham was held scoreless in the third term.
The Lions kicked three goals to two in the final stanza as the match fizzled in the heavy rain.
Going into the match, Pakenham coach Michael Holland demanded his players put their head over the ball. The Lions achieved that, but their turnovers and poor skills severely hampered their endeavours.
