Late drama, statement wins and a Round 1 thriller headlines Holmesglen U19 Premier Men’s

Round 1 of the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s competition delivered exactly what you’d expect to kick off a new season.

The opening clash saw De La Salle make an early statement, defeating Old Xavierians 74-40. Despite the scoreboard margin, Old Xavs coach Matt Handley felt the game was far tighter than it appeared on paper. Late goals from De La Salle blew the margin out, but for large periods, particularly in the second half, Old Xavs matched it in the contest. Ultimately, the difference came down to efficiency, with De La making more of their opportunities with ball in hand.

At Brighton Beach Oval, Old Brighton held off St Kevin’s in a high-quality encounter, winning 65-54 in what loomed as one of the games of the round. Old Brighton coach Travis O’Donohue described it as a “really high-quality game”, acknowledging his side may have been a touch fortunate given St Kevin’s inaccuracy in front of goal.

That sentiment was echoed by St Kevin’s coach Paul Greenham, who lamented his side finishing with four more scoring shots but still falling short. A costly lapse in the second quarter, where Old Brighton piled on four goals to one in a 10-minute burst, proved decisive. Despite lifting their pressure and ball movement in the final term to give themselves a chance, St Kevin’s couldn’t quite bridge the gap, going down to a well-drilled Old Brighton outfit.

St Bedes Mentone produced one of the more impressive performances of the round, overcoming Old Scotch 99-71 in a game that ebbed and flowed before the home side powered away late. Coach Sam Hecker outlined a strong response from his side after conceding an early lead, working their way back into the contest to take control by halftime.

The third quarter was a tight arm wrestle, but Old Scotch edged ahead late in the term to hold a narrow advantage. From there, St Bedes lifted another gear, dominating the final quarter to run out convincing 28-point winners. Angus Shepardson led the charge through the midfield, while Jai Pugsley’s five-goal haul proved a major difference up forward. Rhett Fernando’s tackling pressure across half-back and Lachy Hecker’s work rate in the forward half set the tone for a side that looked dangerous when up and running.

Old Scotch coach Hugo Boreham was disappointed with the result but took positives from what he described as an “unbelievable game to coach”, highlighting the competitiveness and intensity throughout. Despite the loss, Old Scotch showed enough to suggest they’ll be in the mix in plenty of games this season.

Perhaps the most dramatic finish of the round came between Uni Blues and Caulfield Grammarians, who couldn’t be split in a thrilling 72-all draw. It was a game defined by momentum swings, with both sides having periods of control.

Uni Blues coach Steve Boakes admitted his side were slow out of the blocks, conceding an early 20-point deficit that Caulfield largely maintained throughout the day. However, the Blues showed resilience to stay within striking distance before eventually hitting the front late in the game. Just when it looked like they had done enough, Caulfield surged again, kicking two goals in the final minute to snatch a draw in remarkable fashion.

Caulfield coach Cooper Rule described the contest as a “game of momentum swings all day”, with his side losing their way late before moments of individual brilliance turned the tide. Ethan Lakman was the hero, kicking two clutch goals in the dying stages to ensure his side walked away with a share of the points. Rule noted that at their best, Caulfield looked dangerous going forward and difficult to score against, but consistency across four quarters will be a focus moving forward.

Boakes also praised Caulfield as a well-structured and much-improved side compared to last season, tipping them to challenge plenty of teams in 2026. Standout performers for Uni Blues included Sam Sinnott, Xavier Blood and Ted Bain.

In the final game of the round, Parkdale delivered a commanding 91-57 victory over Beaumaris, showcasing their ability to capitalise on opportunities and apply consistent pressure. Parkdale coach Nick Anderson described the match as an early arm wrestle, with both sides guilty of inefficiency in front of goal. However, his side’s tackling and defensive pressure ultimately proved the difference, setting up a strong win.

Anderson also highlighted the contribution of younger players, suggesting promising depth within the squad, and flagged a potential Friday night rematch with Caulfield as the club looks to build momentum early in the season.

For Beaumaris, coach Nathan Prosser pointed to a frustrating night, particularly in front of goal where his side finished with 7.15. Despite responding well after a slow start and creating opportunities, they were unable to convert and apply sustained scoreboard pressure. Prosser noted the importance of sticking to their game style for longer periods as they look to bounce back in the coming rounds.

Overall, Round 1 delivered a compelling start to the Holmesglen U19 Premier Men’s season. With close finishes, standout individual performances, and several sides already showing strong systems and structures, the competition shapes as an even and highly competitive one in 2026.