SATURDAY SKINNY

Spring sprang and they came to play, jostling for positions in all seven senior grades.

In the top sections, shocks abounded and it is good that it was only R17, as we’ll need a week to think about what exactly happened out there. In the Divisions, some clubs had good news, while others bade their farewells, some to the section.

In Premier, St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers risked second spot to grab first, pressuring their way to victory over Collegians in perfect conditions. Neither team gained the ascendancy after Collegians dominated the early going everywhere but on the scoreboard. The Tiges sealed it late. Xavs got another five from Matt Handley in their defeat of Old Trinity. Old Melburnians had six from Cameron Beck as the Dark Blues hit top form against Old Carey, which got five from Paul Fiorenza. Old Haileybury got eight from Travis Ridgway as Old Haileybury led De La Salle at lemon-time, but the Blue and Golds wiped it away with a ten goal final term. Mark Passador slotted five as Old Scotch held Uni Blues to two second half goals. UPSHOT: Old Haileybury is relegated. Old Melburnians must beat SBMT to survive, as long as Uni Blues beat Old Trinity. However, if Trinity wins, OMs go out and Blues will miss the four, as long as DLS beats Scotch. If OMs do win, the Tiges will possibly drop to second, but that will need Xavs to beat Carey and Colls could finish third if it loses to Old Haileybury. Scotch? They will survive in Premier unless OMs and Trinity both win and they lose. Got it?

In Premier B, relegated Hampton Rovers smashed table topper Caulfield Grammarians at the Boss. St Kevin’s beat Uni Blacks to hold second, Old Brighton kept third spot by beating Marcellin and the battle for fourth spot thinned, as Beaumaris got five from Scott Gower in their defeat of Oakleigh. Fourth-placed St Bernard’s got six from Andrew Merrington as it despatched finals aspirant Old Ivanhoe. UPSHOT: Bernies face Caulfield next week, but should it lose, appears unlikely to miss. The four is probably set as it is. Marcellin and Hampton Rovers take their farewell lap next week.

In Premier C, AJAX was beaten by its main flag rival Werribee Districts, who got twin Michelles from Nat Black and Aaron Taylor. Rupertswood escaped in a tight game with Monash Blues. Old Camberwell kicked six in the last to eke out a narrow win against the Unicorns. Mazenod tipped out the Roys in another close one, while David Forrest kicked seven for Old Essendon as it slipped comfortably past Ormond. UPSHOT: The Bees, Jackers and Nodders will finish 1,2,3. Old Camberwell is fourth and meets fifth placed Rupo for the final spot. MHSOB is gone and Ormond needs to beat Werribee Districts to have a chance of overtaking Monash Blues.

In Division 1, Todd Patterson booted eight to help NOBSPC to third spot and to put Paradians (Carl Sage six goals) back into Div 2, courtesy of Old Mentonians victory over Old Geelong, who got six from Ryan McEvoy. Whitefriars tipped Peninsula and grabbed fourth spot on percentage from the CYs. Banyule completed its 18-0 campaign, defeating Parkdale Vultures, whom they will meet again next week in the second-semi. Williamstown got seven from James Wong in their walloping of Bulleen-Temp. UPSHOT: Banyule, Vultures, NOBs and the Friars play next week. Sayonara Raiders and Bullants.

In Div 2, Stuey Patten booted eight in La Trobe’s win over Aquinas, which goes down along with Old Westbourne, which lost to SMD. Eltham got five from Sab Ciavola and beat Therry Penola, which it will play again next week in the first-semi. St John’s beat ESL to stay in second spot. Glenn Boyd booted five as top team Glen Eira thumped SMS.

In Div 3, UHS-VU dumped West Brunswick to Div 4. The Four Blues had eight from Pete Cristoforo in their pounding of finalist Ivanhoe, which had seven from Ash Close. Yarra Valley destroyed Kew, with six from Adam Gamble, five each from Russell and Simon Yeo. Mount Lilydale belted Elsternwick, which was held to just one goal. Dave Tremewen kicked six as Hawthorn beat Power House, while Dylan Muscat’s five saw the Bankers home over the Gryphs. UPSHOT: Prahran Assumption unbeaten, minor premier. Yarra Valley meets Ivanhoe in the Qualifying Final, while UHSVU meets Monash Gryphons in the Elimination. Relegated: West Brunswick and Mt Lilydale.

The Div 4 goalfest continued. Swinburne’s Damon Green kicked eight as the Pigs rolled over BHN, which got five from Dan Penny. Ken Zuidema kicked five for North Brunswick, not enough to trouble SFX. Manningham Cobras, with six from Scott McPherson, edged South Mornington, which got five from Matt Blackmore. Eley Park got eight from Jon Edlich and six apiece from Corey Cresswell and Kirk Lindsay as it rolled over Chadstone, which got another seven from Brent Fairbanks. Sean O’Connor kicked five as the Stationmasters larruped Point Cook. UPSHOT: SFX play the Razorbacks (2SF) while the Snakes play the Sharks.