ROUND 9 – XAVS HANG ON – JUST

But Xavs then went BANG and piled on the goals, stretching their lead to 56 points at one stage. But with Adam Houlihan (5) is freakish touch, Scotch kept chipping away and with minutes to go, the margin had somehow been reduced to 3 points. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Xaverian first gamer Oliver Gidley (on the back of over 100 reserves games) calmly slotted through the sealer in almost total darkness. The end result of a freewheeling and high standard game was OX: 22.14 to OS: 21.12.
In the other games, De La welcomed back Ben Mannix from yet another retirement and the veteran came to the party, kicking three first-quarter goals to set his side up against Old Trinity. The Ts didn’t have a prayer after that, with De La belting them by 94 points. Mannix and full forward Matt Moore did as they liked for the home side. Collegians were highly fancied to knock off Old Brighton but it never looked likely, with the ‘Tonners hanging on to win by 22 points and very much signal that they are right in the top bracket of teams. Uni Blues had a stinker against Old Ivanhoe, going down by 26 points at home. And St Bede’s/Mentone, who were just four points the better of Uni Blacks at half time, went on a rampage in the second half, eventually winning by 86 points.
The upshot? Blacks and Trinity are in all sorts of trouble, Blues are seemingly out of the mix and Old Brighton are the real deal.
In B Section winners were Old Haileybury, Marcellin, Old Carey (by 107 points), Old Essendon (by ten goals) and St Bernards, who did away with a wayward kicking St Kevins side.