Keysborough hangs in

By Brad Kingsbury
KEYSBOROUGH sealed a qualifying final date next weekend by toughing out a somewhat unconvincing eight-point win over a typically determined Hampton Park at the Robert Booth Reserve on Saturday.
The Redbacks started with captain Josh Taylor leading by example and taking on star Burra spearhead Luke McGuinness and coach Jason Caples starting on young tyro centre half forward Tyson King.
The Burra started well with two quick goals, but Hampton Park answered smartly and the match settled into its rhythm quickly with no room for spectators at the stoppages. David Biagi was dangerous running forward for the Redbacks until midway through the second term when suddenly the home side looked set to suffer a drubbing with the Burra slamming on five unanswered goals in a 14-minute burst, to lead by 32 points at half-time.
However Caples regrouped his charges and they came out full of intent in the second half, with running backmen Ryan Simpson, Sheldon Fredericks and James Van Elewoud turning defence into attack and often leaving their opponents flat-footed.
That was a worrying sign for the Burra hierarchy with a huge challenge against Narre Warren looming this weekend on the wide expanses of the Edwin Flack Reserve.
The Keysborough defence stood strong with Corey Wilkinson doing a fine job on key forward Kevin McLean and Daniel Born outpointing beanpole Redback Shane Moffatt despite spotting his opponent about eight inches in height. The difference at three-quarter time was 21 points and the Hampton Park crowd was buzzing, with their side still in with a chance.
That was the case throughout what became a desperate final term and when Gary Murphy reduced the margin to 10 points with a great snap, a whiff of victory swept across the Booth Reserve.
That was quickly dispelled by lanky youngster Dean Gentle who replied with a crucial goal after a great snap of his own from 35 metres out, edging his side 16 points clear with 10 minutes to play. That turned out to be enough and even a miraculous dribble goal from Biagi late in the quarter, his fourth major for the day, was not enough to boost the Redbacks to the post.
Burra mentor Greg Siwes was reflective afterwards and acknowledged the never-beaten attitude of his side’s rival.
“We went away from what we did in the first half, and they kept at us,” he said. “We started to chip the ball and handball it around to get out of trouble instead of whacking it on our boot. It wasn’t a game for that sort of stuff.
“I said we needed to kick 15 goals to win before the game and we kicked 12, so we were probably a bit lucky to get away with it. They’re a good side and I was a bit surprised we got as far away from them in the first half. They’ve obviously done a lot of fitness work, and they didn’t give us many opportunities to kick goals after that.”
Other round 18 results were Pakenham over Devon Meadows by 52 points, Doveton over Tooradin by 66 points, ROC over Berwick by 13 points and Narre Warren over Cranbourne by 53 points.
Finals week 1: elimination final at Pakenham on Saturday-Hampton Park v Doveton, qualifying final at Berwick on Sunday-Narre Warren v Keysborough.