By DAVID NAGEL
ARCH rivals Berwick and Beaconsfield look set to produce one of the great Battles of the Creek when they lock horns in the South East Football Netball League match of the day at Edwin Flack Reserve on Saturday.
These two proud clubs have played each other just once in a final over the last decade, when Berwick triumphed in the 2012 elimination final, but the form of both clubs suggests they could be meeting much deeper into September this year.
The Wickers are on top, with a 10-game winning streak to protect, while the reigning premiers, the Eagles, sit third, flying under the radar despite a six-game winning run of their own.
“It’s massive,” Berwick coach Rhys Nisbet said.
“There’ll be a big crowd, it’ll be intense, they beat us in the first round and we want to make sure we don’t lose to the same side for a second time this year.
“We’re pretty keen to balance the ledger and guarantee ourselves a top-three finish.”
While Beaconsfield freshened up with a bye, Berwick tuned up for this week’s blockbuster with a 20-point victory over perennial powerhouse Narre Warren.
The Wickers were simply too good, their immense forward pressure proving too much for the Magpies who made uncustomary mistakes by both hand and foot.
Berwick skipper Madi Andrews elevated his game to new levels, with a dominant display through the midfield, while livewire forward Mitch Johnson celebrated his 21st birthday with a hefty-six-goal haul.
Lucas Jellyman-Turner, Jo West and Tom Brenna, who cut Jackson Parker out of the game after quarter time, were other terrific contributors for the winners.
Kerem Baskaya was well held early but kicked some late goals to finish with five for the Magpies.
Cranbourne is another team on a roll, the second-placed Eagles making it six on end with a 49-point victory over Tooradin at Westernport Oval.
The battle of the South Gippsland Highway was an arm-wrestle early, the Eagles leading by just a straight kick at half time, before the visitors lifted their work rate after the break.
“We controlled the stoppages and controlled the game after half time,” was Cranbourne coach Simon Goosey’s frank assessment after the match.
The Eagles, who welcomed back Curtis Barker for his first senior game since round two, were well served up forward by Marc Holt and Michael Theodoridis, who kicked four and three goals respectively, while Ryan Davey, Troy Tharle and youngster Jordan Bertrand were efficient four-quarter performers.
Ben Hallas was the Seagulls best player, kicking two goals along the way, while Michael Wallace, Ryan White, Andrew Proctor and Michael Hobbs can also hold their heads high.
ROC led by three points at the final change against Doveton, but ran out of steam on its way to a 30-point loss at Robinson Oval.
Emerging defender James Sloothaak was again impressive for the Kangaroos, who could manage just three points in the final quarter.
Keith Dobson, Shannon Henwood and Michael ‘Pickles’ Henry were terrific for the Doves, who need to defeat Pakenham this weekend to keep their finals hopes alive.
Pakenham warmed up for the clash against the Doves with a dour 20-point victory over Hampton Park at Robert Booth Reserve.
The Redbacks remain winless in 2015, but pushed the Lions, who led by just three points at the final break.
But a 5.5 to 3.0 final quarter kept the Lions’ finals hopes alive.
Russ Lehman and Daniel Fry booted three each for the winners who had youngsters Todd Beck and Matt DeBruin in red-hot form around the ground.
