SATURDAY WRAP

7.7.2012 Andrew Leonard

In contrast to recent weeks today’s football was playing in brilliant conditions right over metropolitan Melbourne. In West Essendon St Bernards hosted the ladder leaders Old Xavierians and almost pulled off the upset win to keep their finals push going. Andrew Grosso kicked seven goals in a virtuoso performance up forward, four of them coming in the third quarter to give the Bernies a seven point lead at three quarter time. There were 11 goals kicked in a pulsating final quarter with multiple lead changes but Xavs, as they to do every week, just found a way to win. 
In other Premier games, Old Carey won their fourth game in a row defeating Caulfield Grammarians by 70 points at home. In a crunch game for both teams St Bedes / Mentone Tigers defeated an inaccurate Old Trinity at Brindisi street by 33 points, in doing so swapped places with the greens and jumped out of the relegation places. De La Salle were wasteful but managed to get a win at University Oval by 15 points to stop the Blues run of wins. Old Scotch host Collegians tomorrow at Sportscover Arena, entry is free for the 1.20 bounce. 
In Premier B, St Kevins returned to the winners list with the thumping 78 point win over Werribee Districts with Henry Parkes kicking 6 goals. At Oakleigh, scores were level heading into the last and the home side had their chances but couldn’t kick a goal against Beaumaris in the final quarter, going down by 23 points. Old Haileybury have found some good form recently and it was on display against the rampaging University Blacks. The Bloods led at every change and eventually won by 23 points. Old Brighton enjoyed the trip to Old Ivanhoe, Daniel Anthony kicked seven in a 90 point win for the visitors. Old Melburnians held out Ajax at the Junction Oval to win by 32 points. 
Premier C saw Old Camberwell return to the winners list with a solid 45 point win over Monash Blues. The Blues have 7 games to salvage another year in Premier C. Mazenod defeated Fitzroy at Central Reserve by 52 points. Marcellin cemented a place on top of the table defeating Hampton Rovers at home. PEGS travelled to Banyule and they came away with the spoils, defeating the home side 9.17 to 6.20 in a poor display of goal kicking by both teams. Parkdale Vultures kept up the pressure on Marcellin with a good win away at Ruperswood, the final margin was 13 points. 
There were some big margins in Division One but Ormond and Old Mentonians played out the close one with the home side holding on to win by seven points at EE Gunn Reserve. Williamstown CYMS had a torrid time against the visiting Whitefriars, losing by 92 points. North Old Boys / St Pats won by 40 points over Peninsula and MHSOBs led all day to win by 49 points against Glen Eira. Old Geelong piled on the goals on a percentage-gathering mission to St Johns. The OG’s Lead by Ryan McEvoy (8) and Callum Wood (6) won by 119 points. 
Division Two was much tighter across the board. Only South Melbourne Districts 103 to 28 win over Emmaus St Leo’s was a blow out. Prahran Assumption had a 11 point win over Old Paradians in a low scoring affair at Toorak Park. Bulleen Templestowe keep winning and again succeed on their travels, this time at Therry Penola, getting the chocolates by seven points. Eltham Collegians won at St Mary’s Salesian by 47 points, but the close game of the day was the two student teams of Monash Cryphons and La Trobe University. La Trobe kicked six goals to one in the first stanza, then were held goalless as the Gryphons kicked six themselves in the second term. The Gryphons carried on in the third to lead by 20 points into the final change and managed to hold out a fast finishing La Trove by 2 points. Jack McMeel (La Trobe) and Peter Rutherford (Gryphons) each kicked five. 
Hawthorn ended a miserable week in the best possible way, defeating Albert Park by five points. Yarra Valley travelled to Ivanhoe and Ash Close’s three goals couldn’t match the four from Russell Yeo or the overall dominance of the visitors who won by 52 points. UHS-VU had a good win at Power House by 26 points, while Aquinas put Old Westbourne to the sword by 61. St Francis Xavier had a win hosting Richmond Central and in doing so replaced them in the five. A logjam of four teams on 6 wins now exists in the section. Kew won at home against Elsternwick to be the front runner of those four teams, their draw earlier this year giving them the extra half win to sit in fourth. 
South Mornington continue to push towards the perfect season, maintaining their 100% record with a 137 win over Mt Lilydale, Jesse Albrecht with another six. Box Hill North lost to North Brunswick at home by 61 points. Point Cook hosted Manningham Cobras, but the Cobras, despite a three quarter time lead of two points fell short in the end by 29 points.  West Brunswick defeated Chadstone by 88 points. In the final game of the section, Swinburne Uni held out the Eley Park Sharks by 14 points in the battle for the double chance come finals. 
The weather forecast is great – so come and watch some great local footy from Premier section tomorrow at Sportscover Arena – the game starts at 1.20pm