St Bedes/Mentone stun top four outfit to burst open finals and relegation race

Two weeks ago, the top four of the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s competition looked all but certain.

Sure, De La Salle were snapping at the heels of University Blues, but with a chunk of percentage and a win off the pace, it looked to take a miraculous turn of events if the top four that had been stable all season long was to crack in the final weeks of the season.

But a week, let alone two, is a long time in footy.

On Friday night, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers hosted Old Scotch to kick off round 15 proceedings as last place taking on third.

You wouldn’t have thought the young Tigers knew that by their performance though.

The Cardinals immediately challenged SBMT’s resolve in the first term, extracting an 11-point advantage at quarter time while recording nine scoring shots to the Tigers’ three.

Scotch didn’t capitalise, but the writing seemed on the wall that the finals contender would cruise by its lowly opponent.

However, the Tigers weren’t ones to roll over like a kitten with yarn – this SBMT outfit was as fierce as the jungle predators themselves.

SBMT held Old Scotch to three behinds in the second term while tallying a further 20 points to their score, forging a one goal lead at the main break.

That control of the contest only continued into the next quarter, where Scotch was once again held to three scoring shots, albeit they converted once on this occasion, before a spirited final quarter from the Tigers saw the home side hold off the surging visitors to win by 17 points, 10.7 (67) to 6.14 (50).

“It was a closely fought match… under the lights the game was quite scrappy,” St Bede’s/Mentone coach Paul McCormack said.

“We got the ascendancy in the third and held on after Scotch fought hard in the last 10 minutes.”

The result opens up a world of possibilities for both the finals and relegation race in the division, with Scotch now just two premiership points ahead of De La Salle, while SBMT are now just one win behind sixth and seventh-placed sides Old Xaverians and Caulfield Grammarians.

Old Scotch’s dire goalkicking accuracy has cost the club for a second straight week, with a combined scoreline of 10.28 across the last fortnight.

De La Salle are right in the finals hunt after playing out a thrilling draw against University Blues.

De La pipped the Blues early with the first four out of five goals in the contest, before a late Blues goal dropped the margin back down to two kicks.

The Blues began to reel the lead in during the second term, even nabbing the lead momentarily, but the blue and gold side held a slim six-point advantage at the main break.

Swings of momentum were the theme in the third term with De La racing out to a 19-point lead, but the Blues would kick four in a row, suddenly leading the contest.

The clubs then exchanged blows, but De La had the last laugh heading into three-quarter-time, with Ben Miller slotting the major to put his side in front by three points.

Both sides felt the heat ramp up in the final term, resulting in players crumbling in front of goal in what became a quarter of desperation that, despite the skills, was impossible to look away from.

Eventually the Blues were able to kick truly, and did so twice to lead by eight, but the momentum swung back into De La’s favour as the game drew to a close.

With just a goal separating the sides with 30 seconds to play, a free kick was rewarded to De La Salle’s Angus Jackson just 10 metres from the goalmouth, kicking truly in the dying seconds to seal the competition’s first tie of the season, 11.12 (78) to 12.6 (78).

Rep Footy gun Antonio Giampa was De La’s best afield, while Uni Blues’ William ‘Billy’ Furphy was damaging with three goals despite plying his trade in the midfield.

“It was a high standard between two sides worthy of a top four finish and the draw was probably a fair outcome,” Uni Blues coach Steve Boakes said.

“Furphy was important while Harvey Correll was courageous in defence.”

The result sees the Blues overtake Scotch in the standings, while De La inch closer to making their late charge to September a reality.

St Kevin’s displayed why they are arguably still the competition’s best side with a ruthless poleaxing of Caulfield Grammarians.

Seven goals between Lucas May and Dante Tomarchio set up a destructive result, with SKOB handing the Fields a loss by 136 points, 2.5 (17) to 22.21 (153).

While even on premiership points with Old Brighton, St Kevin’s percentage is comfortably better, and with just one top four side to play in the final three rounds, SKOB are firmly pressing for the minor premiership.

Meanwhile, Old Brighton rebounded from its two-game losing streak, getting the job done over Old Xaverians.

Oscar Newstead and Jules Lohan were best on for the Tonners in the 40-point victory, as the Xavs sit precariously in sixth, hovering above the relegation zone by percentage.

With a tough run home, Round 17’s affair between Old Xaverians and St Bedes/Mentone could determine the wooden spooner in 2025.

Ahead to next week however, Old Xavs play De La Salle, with the latter heading in as favourites and primed to potentially enter the top four following the weekend.

That’s because Old Scotch will have to knock off top four rival Old Brighton, and should the Cardinals suffer a third consecutive defeat, they may find themselves outside of finals calculations for the first time this season.

St Kevin’s will not be taking SBMT lightly after their upset result in round 15, while Caulfield host University to close out.