Doveton debutant Shannon Henwood marks strongly over Lion Casey Cherry on Saturday. By Brad Kingsbury
DOVETON’S record 23-game winning streak came to an end after Pakenham recorded a seven-point victory in a sensational match at the Robinson Reserve on Saturday.
The game included six lead changes in a hectic third term, a contender for mark of the year from Lion Simon Ponter, goals out of nothing from Doves Ryan Hendy and Michael Henry and a good, old-fashioned blue after Doveton debutant Shannon Henwood was ironed out by fellow teenager Casey Cherry.
Lions coach Michael Holland set up a closed zone in the centre corridor and forced the Doveton runners to lead and kick wide, often conceding possession but applying pressure every time the Doves pushed forward.
That proved the key to the game and the Doves succumbed in the final term despite great games from Brad Downe, Ricky Hayes, Matthew Miller and captain Clint Wilson.
Keysborough fought hard for three quarters against a ROC combination before the Kangaroos’ fitness took hold for a 39-point win.
The second term was marred by an incident after which Keysborough’s Matthew Witherden was reported by three umpires.
The Burra took it up to ROC in the third term with spearhead Luke McGuinness looking dangerous and defender Corey Wilkinson playing solid rebound football, but it was not enough and the Kangaroos lifted a gear in the final term to score nine last-quarter goals and bolt away to a comfortable victory.
Another hard day at the office resulted in Dingley being kept goalless for the second week running, this time by Hampton Park.
The Dingoes were simply uncompetitive and the 155-point result was not unexpected.
Dingley applied itself to the best of its ability after the long break and Daniel Turcarelli, Tony Lavars and Darren Andrews battled it out for the home side.
Narre Warren showed Tooradin what was required to become a genuine premiership contender with a 79-point blitzing.
The Seagulls took it up to their highly fancied opponents for the first half and stayed with them in the third term, but the Magpies lifted significantly in the last quarter, booting 11 goals to two.
A 10-goal haul from Ryan Donaldson put paid to Devon Meadows’ chances and provided the spark for Berwick’s 95-point victory. It was the Wickers’ first win of the season and Donaldson’s effort answered last week’s persistent rumours that the temperamental star was unhappy at the club.
Beaconsfield coach Haydn Robins returned to the goal square on Saturday after more than a year away from the senior team, and led his young side to a seven-point win over Cranbourne.
Robins booted five of the Eagles’ 11 goals, helping his team turn a 20-point three-quarter time deficit into victory.
