Round 7 of the Holmesglen U19’s Premier Men’s competition was a defining round. A round that showcased the immense talent of the league, and just how evenly skewed the competition is.
The first matchup of the round delivered a monumental upset, with Old Xaverians toppling Old Brighton on Saturday morning, bringing their winning streak to a grinding halt. Entering the contest undefeated in 2024, Old Brighton were stunned by a determined Old Xavier outfit, hellbent on stamping their authority over the competition.
With a quarter to play, the Old Xaverians held a slim 2-point lead. A mature performance would see the side kick 5 goals to Old Brighton’s 4 in the final quarter, to close with an all-important win on a tight ladder.
Old Brighton’s captain Jonah Campigili stood tallest, slotting a whopping 6 goals in a loss, a magnificent attempt to drag his team over the finish line. Ultimately the effort wasn’t enough, the opposition running away as 10-point winners.
For the victors, Harry Bird, Thomas Gorman, Tom Bourne, Charlie Christopher, Xavier Austin and Nick Honeyman were pivotal in the win.
A small hiccup, Old Brighton still remain atop the Holmesglen U19’s Premier ladder, with Old Scotch and Old Xavierians a game behind, nipping at the heels.
In the second match of the round, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers eased past Beaumaris, winning by 58 points.
Even at a goal apiece at the quarter time break, it was the Tigers who ran rampant over the Sharks at Banksia Reserve for the remainder of the contest. Jude Fountain led the onslaught slotting 3 goals for the game.
Josh Pitara, Simon Taylor, Rhett Fernando, Jude McCormack, Thomas Aughterson and Ethan Hall were named best afield for the victors, whilst Ned Bodi, Saxon McLennan and Elliot Styles impressed for Beaumaris.
St Bedes are now within striking distance to make a bid for a top four spot and will be looking to carry the momentum from a strong win.
Later in the day, De La Salle fell to Williamstown CYMS, despite leading for a majority of the game. An agonising defeat, it is the second week in a row that De La Salle has lost in such fashion. It was Joshua Stewart, Samuel Cross, Ethan MacBeth and Max Miller, who impressed throughout the contest.
Jasper Taylor, Samuel Shepherd, Xavier Snelling, Jack wheeler, Josh Neville and Andreas Martinez put in strong performances to give Williamstown its second win for 2024.
De La is showing strong signs of securing those illustrious first four points as they edge ever so close to victory in recent matches.
In a relatively low-scoring affair Williamstown showed resilience as a team to get themselves back into the game despite the deficit they faced for 3 quarters. This will put them in good stead with their confidence levels back up after a few tough losses in a row.
Continuing their strong form, Old Scotch cruised past Caulfield Grammarians in a comfortable 49-point victory on Saturday afternoon.
Caulfield struggled to get going in this match up, recording a single behind in the first quarter to put them well behind the eight ball. Scotch started to motor from there and the Grammarians were too far gone to catch up. They will be looking to get back on the winners list and find their top form.
Hamish Jones, Jake Phillips, Matthew Mayes, Henry Long, Freddie Leeton, James Davies dazzled for the victors. Scotch shared plenty of the footy amongst their ten individual goal kickers, spearheaded by the reliable James Davies who has soared to second place on the competition’s leading goal kicker tally. With the win, Old Scotch affirm themselves as strong contenders in 2024.
The final matchup of the round proved to be the most exhilarating, with University Blues outlasting a gallant St Kevin’s, winning by just two points. Trailing for a large quantity of the day, The Blue boys entered three quarter time behind. Requiring a significant effort in the final term, the Blues seized the moment in authoritative fashion to trump the old foe.
A low scoring affair throughout the day, both sides showcased flashes of brilliance. Henry Meggitt was named best afield for the Blues, with Willem Sanders, Oliver Sleiman, Carl Ziebarth, Lachlan Rees and Luca Di Lallo also performing well.
For St Kevin’s, a hint of disappointment lingers. Hudson Lefoe, George Delimitrou, Liam Edwards led the charge late in the game, yet failed to overcome.
Looking ahead, St Kevin’s will be hoping to bounce back next week, when they face the winless De La Salle. Old Brighton will be looking to maintain their 1 game buffer at the top of the table with a win in their home-ground matchup against St Bedes/Mentone Tigers.
Meanwhile Caulfield Grammarians will host Williamstown CYMS at Glen Huntly Park in an even tussle. And Old Scotch will travel to play the University Blues with a win carrying such significance at this stage of journey with a tight ladder.Last weekend’s results set up a tantalising contest this Friday night, when Beaumaris meet the rampaging Old Xavierians under lights at Banksia Reserve in what could be the match of the round.
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