Sharks survive one-point thriller in Holmesglen U19 Premier Men’s

Round 6 of the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier competition delivered another weekend of tight contests, momentum swings and statement performances as the ladder continues to take shape heading deeper into the season.

The match of the round arguably came at Camberwell Sportsground, where Old Scotch held off a fast-finishing St Kevin’s outfit to secure a hard-fought 63-57 victory in a clash between two genuine contenders.

Old Scotch coach Hugo Boreham was full of praise for his side after overcoming one of the competition heavyweights.

“Beating a quality side like SKOB is never easy but the boys trusted the plan, dug deep and delivered,” Boreham said.

“Vibes are high and we are having plenty of fun. A lot to look forward to.”

For St Kevin’s, the result was one that got away. Coach Paul Greenham lamented his side’s inability to capitalise on a dominant second quarter, which ultimately proved costly against a polished Old Scotch unit.

“Bad kicking is bad football. Plain and simple. The game should have been out of reach by half time,” Greenham said.

“To kick two goals and seven behinds in the second quarter from all gettable positions and set shots just killed us. 20 inside 50s to seven was complete domination, we just couldn’t convert.”

Greenham also praised the quality of the opposition, declaring Old Scotch as the benchmark side of the competition through six rounds.

“Give a good team like Scotch half a sniff and the rest is history. Credit to OS. I think they are right now the best team in it and are coached by one of the VAFA’s brightest young talents in Hugo.”

At Brighton Beach Oval, Old Brighton continued their impressive form with a commanding 95-43 win over Uni Blues.

After a competitive opening, Old Brighton’s pressure and ball movement proved too much to handle as they piled on scoreboard pressure throughout the afternoon.

Coach Travis O’Donohue was particularly pleased with his midfield group and the side’s ability to match Uni Blues physically from the outset.

“We knew Uni Blues would be physical, so we were really pleased with our pressure and intent early in the game,” O’Donohue said.

“That allowed us to force turnovers in our front half and create quality opportunities for our forwards.”

“I thought our midfield group had their best performance of the season and they continued to enhance their connection.”

The victory sets up a fascinating clash before the bye against De La Salle, a side Old Brighton still views as one of the competition’s biggest threats despite their heavy loss this round.

The closest game of the round came between Beaumaris and Old Xavs, with the Sharks escaping by the slimmest of margins in a thrilling 52-51 victory.

In a low-scoring arm wrestle, every contest and clearance mattered as neither side could fully break the game open. Beaumaris ultimately held their nerve late to bank an important four points in a result that could prove significant later in the season.

Meanwhile, Caulfield produced one of the most impressive performances of the round, overpowering De La Salle 108-52 in a dominant display.

The Fields were sharp across all lines and consistently punished De La Salle on turnover, piling on goals in bunches to secure a percentage-boosting win.

De La Salle coach Andy Otten admitted his side was comprehensively beaten.

“Caulfield outplayed us in all phases of the game and were too strong for us,” Otten said.

“It was a disappointing game all around. But it gives us great learnings of how important the fundamentals of footy are.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Otten remained optimistic about his group’s response.

“We regroup, stick to our process and get ready for next week.”

The final game of the round saw St Bedes/Mentone continue their strong form with a gritty 64-54 win over Parkdale in another fierce local rivalry clash.

Coach Sam Hecker praised his side’s maturity after they regained control late in the contest following a third-quarter lapse that allowed Parkdale back into the game.

“Good win in the end. Tough game as it always is against Parkdale,” Hecker said.

“We had momentum during a lot of the game but had a lapse in the third quarter which they took advantage of. To come back in the last quarter to win shows great maturity.”

Several key players stood up for St Bedes/Mentone when the game was on the line, with Curty Howe instrumental through the midfield and skipper Liam Napier again leading from the front.

Lachy Hecker was dangerous across half forward with three goals, while Jai Pugsley came alive at crucial moments to also finish with three majors.

“Good to come away with a win,” Hecker added.

With six rounds now complete, the competition is beginning to separate into clear tiers, although every week continues to produce surprises. Old Scotch appear to have strengthened their status as the team to beat, while Old Brighton and St Bedes/Mentone continue to build momentum. Caulfield’s emphatic victory has also thrown them firmly into the conversation as a side capable of challenging the top teams.