Xavs skip away from OMs, while Lions, SKOB claim tough wins

St Kevin’s OB fought off a late charge from St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and ran out 21-point winners at TH King Oval. SKOB led by 21 at the half before the Tigers kicked five goals to three and brought the margin to just six points at the last break. SKOB finished strongly with four goals to two in the final term. Ned Reeves and Shaun Kennedy top-scored with three goals each for SKOB, while Mitch Brown continued his outstanding form as BOG. Michael Barnes added three goals for the Tigers alongside standout performances from Stephen Tahana and James Tyquin. With Xavs and Scotch claiming their fifth wins for the year, the Tigers are now one game behind in 10^th.

Collegians maintained their spot at the top of the William Buck Premier ladder after they held off University Blues by four points at Harry Trott Oval. The Lions jumped out to a three-goal lead at the first break, but the Blues gradually pegged them back as the match progressed with six goals to three in the final three terms. Viv Michie and Lachie Ferguson starred for the Lions, while Jeremy Taylor and Ayce Cordy continued their excellent form for the fifth-placed Blues. The Blues remain one game behind Trinity in fourth.

Old Scotch returned to the winners’ column with a hard-fought two-point victory over Old Trinity at the Daley Oval. Ruckman Lachlan Waddell had a day out for the Cardinals with five goals alongside impressive performances from Jack Hurley, Lachlan Byrne-Jones and James Sansom. Seb Nicolosi kicked three goals for the T’s and Callum Pohl was instrumental to keeping them in the contest. Scotch now climb into seventh and above both De La and OMs, while the T’s remain fourth but with the third-lowest percentage (87.51%) in the competition.

Old Xaverians proved too strong for Old Melburnians as they skipped away to a 66-point victory at Toorak Park. With both sides in the bottom half of the ladder and so much on the line, it was a physical opening term with neither team giving an inch and, as such, scores tied at the first break. Xavs kicked three goals to one in the second term before blitzing their opponents with 9.9 to 1.4 in the second half. Alex Browne and Tim Golds kicked three goals each for Xavs and Tomi Johnston found plenty of it, while Cauley Beetham continued his dominance as the number one tagger in the competition with an incredible shut down performance on Tom Paule. Sam Hooper kicked two goals and was a standout for OMs, who now drop to ninth spot on the ladder after five straight losses. Xavs climb from ninth into sixth with a percentage of 103.57% the third-highest.

Old Brighton made it two wins in a row and strengthened their position in the top three after they defeated De La Salle by 12 points at Waverly Oval. Trailing by seven points at the main break, the Tonners lifted with eight goals to four in the second half. Michael Karayannis starred with four goals in a BOG display for the Tonners, while Harry Hill and Anthony Zimmerman (3) were outstanding. Tom Humphrey led the way for De La, but the loss means they now fall back into eighth spot on the ladder behind Xavs and Scotch. The Tonners are three and a half games clear of Trinity in fourth.

Photo: Ari Hatzis