Scotch, Xavs and Caulfield all triumph in come-from-behind classics

Round 4 delivered the most competitive weekend of Holmesglen Under 19 Premier action this season, as three games were decided by less than two goals. All those three games had the eventual victors trailing at either the first, second or third break: in a message to the competition that four-quarter efforts are a must in this league.

One of those encounters was Old Xaverians’ 11-point triumph over St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, with an accurate goalkicking display the factor behind the enthralling comeback victory.

The Tigers started the game firing with 37 points to just one goal for Old Xaverians, immediately dialling up the scoreboard pressure. However, Xavs would come close to returning serve, scoring five goals to one in the second quarter to bridge the gap back to a seven-point halftime deficit.

A plucky third term saw the scoring rate decrease, but Old Xaverians managed to continue converting from their minimal opportunities, nailing three straight goals to SBMT’s 1.4, handing the red and black side a slim one-point advantage heading into the final term.

Xavs nailed the first in the last before SBMT had five consecutive scoring shots, although they were once again only able to nail one of them. Round 1 Anytime Fitness Rising Star Harry Wharfe slotted through a goal to reclaim the lead late, before another goal from the Xavs army in the dying minutes was the sealer for an 11-point victory.

Ted Hansen and Tommy Trist were among Old Xaverians best, while Joshua Robinson kicked a game-high three goals for the Tigers.

Old Brighton remains undefeated after a comprehensive shutout of Hampton Rovers, limiting the Rovers to just a behind in the second half.

The Tonners kicked away to a near 10-goal lead at halftime but kicked into another gear following the main break, with their defenders putting on a clinic to stifle any Rovers attack.

14 second-half goals to one behind saw the lead explode out to 156 points by the final siren, with the Tonners now boasting a league-leading percentage of 385.9.

Tommy Keyte’s five goals led the way for Old Brighton while Joshua Carr was deemed best afield. Cohen Friend was judged to be Hampton’s best for the match.

St Kevin’s have also bounced back from their abandoned affair in Round 3 with a comprehensive victory over Williamstown CYMS.

The CY’s showed competitiveness in the first quarter, remaining two goals in touch of the in-form SKOB, but were quickly blast away in the second term, with St Kevin’s tallying six goals to one to lead by 45 points.

Williamstown came out of the sheds with fight, matching it to their opposition for most of the third term, only allowing the margin to increase by another eight points, but the fourth quarter is where SKOB found their groove again defensively. The CY’s managed just two points in the final term, with St Kevin’s running out 69-point winners.

Lucas May top-scored with five goals for St Kevin’s, while Maahi Patel played his part for the CY’s with four majors.

Caulfield Grammarians have claimed their first win of 2025 against De La Salle, with the encounter going down to the wire.

The game hung in the balance throughout its entirety, with the Fields’ halftime margin of 15 the biggest of the day.

Caulfield Grammarians would relinquish that lead in the third term however, as De La Salle kicked 4.4 to just one goal to claim a seven-point advantage heading into the last quarter.

Coach of the Fields Cooper Rule said that his players’ “hunger” was evident, as three goals to one saw Caulfield overcome De La in a physically draining fourth term.

“I was just super proud of this group in particular, and our hunger for the footy,” Rule said.

“Our pressure was relentless from start to finish and it was a real full team effort that got us over the line.

“We ran out of legs in the final 10 minutes but still found a way to win.”

That win marks Caulfield’s first after three straight defeats, leaving just Williamstown and Hampton searching for victory in 2025. Harry Appel and Harvey Dawson were the Fields’ best in their win, while Pat Russell and Angus Jackson were admirable for De La.

Round 4 was capped off with a dramatic top of the table clash, with the Uni Blues taking their first defeat to Old Scotch in a nine-point epic.

It was yet another come-from-behind classic that has highlighted the competitive nature of this competition, as a remarkable eight-goal final term turned the game on its head.

The Blues established an early buffer at quarter-time, restricting the Cardinals to just seven points. That 16-point lead grew to 26 at half-time, leaving a mammoth task for Old Scotch to overcome.

The Cardinals began to chip away at the lead in the third term, but University held firm, keeping their lead to a solid buffer of 15 and went into the three-quarter-time huddle brimming with confidence. However, the intensity of the game would only continue to ramp up.

Astonishingly, after converting more behinds than goals through three quarters, the Cardinals piled on eight goals straight in the final term. The incredible accuracy suddenly stifled any Uni Blues momentum and turned the game well and truly in Old Scotch’s favour.

While the Blues managed to snag four final quarter goals of their own, the attacking fluency of Old Scotch caught their defence off-guard, and goals began to leak at an alarming rate. Unable to stem the bleeding, the Blues relinquished their 26-point halftime buffer to lose by nine points at the final siren, and hand Old Scotch the current top position on the Under 19 Premier’s ladder.

William Furphy was the Uni Blues’ best in defeat, kicking a team-high three goals, but Tom Wenzel’s influence of six goals for the Cardinals, including ones late in the piece, earn him the best-on-ground honour.

The Uni Blues have a chance to amend their defeat against yet another premiership contender in Old Brighton, who sit undefeated with three wins due to Round 3’s abandoned match.

With regrading underway, the Round 5 competition is up in the air with fresh blood set to enter the competition. With the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s landscape about to change, this offers opportunity for those teams looking to climb up the ladder and will no doubt present a new dynamic. Stay tuned as it all unfolds…