DAY OF FIRSTS: SOUTH MORNINGTON LOSE, LA TROBE UNI WIN

Andrew Leonard

In Premier Caulfied hosted Old Scotch and it was the home side that gave Old Scotch a scare. The Fielder’s led at half time by a couple but in the end the Cardinals class shone as they ran out winners by 30 points. 
Collegians entertained Uni Blues and this looked on paper like being the close one but it was anything but as the men in purple extended their lead at every change to win by 50 points. 
St Bernards hosted Old Carey in the match that was vital for both side’s finals aspirations. A scrappy first half had St Bernards in front at the long break but it was all Carey after that, Laidlaw finished with four goals to help his side to a 45 point win. 
Old Xaverians were paid a visit by St Bedes / Mentone Tigers and the Tigers find themselves back I the bottom two tonight after giving up a 40 point lead early on. The Tigers managed one goal in the second half and no score in the final quarter as they struggled to cope with the bigger bodies of Old Xavs who went on to win by 30 points. 
Tomorrow at Sportscover Arena round twelve concludes with Old Trinity hosting De La Salle.  The game starts at 1pm and entry is free. 
In Premier B, Beaumaris faced St Kevins in a battle for the double chance, a win for the home side at Banksia Reserve would see them move to second, and that is where they are tonight. Beauy won by three goals. 
 Old Brighton and AJAX faced off at Brighton Beach Oval, and Old Brighton continued their resurgence with a big 65 point win, with Daniel Anthony kicking five with the tonners now in fifth place just a game outside.
 Old Haileybury battled against Old Melburnians and the Bloods suffered a 35-point defeat that sees them fall two games behind Melburnians who remain fourth. 
Werribee Districts visited top placed University Blacks and had a bad day losing by 89 points, with Foster kicking five for the Blacks. 
Bottom placed sides Oakleigh and Ivanhoe could argue that a win could spur them to a mini run towards safety although reality suggest this match would just allow the other club to avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon. At this stage Old Ivanhoe look like they will have both relegation and the wooden spoon to take from this season as Oakleigh won by 37 points. 
In Premier C, eight teams are still in the running to play finals football. Hampton Rovers hosted Rupertswood in the longest road trip of the section, it was a worthwhile trip for Rupo who won by seven goals. 
Monash Blues hosted Banyule and the Blues now need to win their remaining games and hope results go their way in order to play in Premier C next year. 
On the flip side the win by the Bears has breathed life into their chase for finals action with a 21-point win – Adam Barclay kicked seven. Second versus third was the match of the day on paper, however Parkdale Vultures travelled to Fitzroy and robbed them of the four points and chunk of percentage in a 68 win where Boland kicked six. 
Old Camberwell have been hot and cold this year but a win at home to Mazenod by 30 points might re-ignite them for a solid run into the finals. They now sit six points clear of the four clubs chasing fourth. 
PEGS hosted top side Marcellin and they showed up the top team to win by 67 points, assisted in the win by six goals from David Forrest.
As scribe Darren Dawson pointed out in his column, Division 1 had an average margin of 98 points last week in one of the more lopsided weeks in memory. Not so this week. 
Old Mentonians had the toughest challenge in the section hosting a rampant NOBs / St Pats and acquitted themselves well, although they will be hard pressed to make the four now after going down by 40 points. Patterson grabbed six for the top side as Alexander slotted five in a losing cause. 
Ormond likewise still had hope of finals action going into their clash with Old Geelong. OGs had spent the past two weeks building their percentage and thought they might as well continue to do that against their hosts winning by 45 points. In doing so almost shutting the door – but not bolting – on those sides hoping to play in the spring. 
Williamstown CYMS had plenty to play for against MHSOBs and they got the win they craved (by 13points) in a hard fought struggle at home. The vital four points secured but a miserable percentage sees them still in 9^th place tonight. 
That is thanks to the win of Glen Eira who stay eighth on percentage after defeating bottom placed St Johns at home today by seven goals. A week after Peninsula kicked 35 goals, they were never going to back that up against a Whitefriars outfit with faint hopes of stealing the double chance. Nevertheless the Pirates won by 43 to skip three games clear in second spot. 
Its all smiles in Division 2 as La Trobe University will be celebrating tonight as they secured their first win of the year defeating Emmaus St Leos by 24 points. Carl Joyce kicked six for La Trobe in what coud be a season defining win. 
Monash Gryphons hosted Eltham Collegians and in an upset defeated the second placed side by 14 points.  
Therry Penola and Old Paradians was the match of the round for this section with the winner to be in fourth spot tonight. Paradians were classy all day with five goals each to David Boundy and Matt Derham in their 56 point winner. 
South Melbourne Districts hosted Prahran Assumption and when Adam Sleight kicks a bag of seven it’s usually a good sign as it was today with Prahran Assumption winning by 45 points. 
Bulleen Templestowe continued in their dominant fashion to brush aside St Mary’s Salesian at Ted Ajani Reserve by 117 points. 
In Division 3 A rejuvenated Hawthorn couldn’t pull off a magical third win in a row against top side Yarra Valley. Perhaps if the game was at Rathmines the Hawks might have fancied themselves but a margin of 71 points was a bridge too far. Six goals each to Nelson Pollard and Sam Savage plus five to Stephen Donald for the home side was too much for the five of David Quamil. 
Ivanhoe hosted Richmond Central and the second placed side put a dint in the Snakes prospects of finals activity with a 110 point win. Ash close bagged another 9 to move within 12 of the ton and with five games to go it should be a formality. 
Albert Park has strung together a couple of wins in a row to leave Power House still winless after a 57 point win today, Dylan Muscat slotted seven majors. St Francis Xavier couldn’t bonce back from an upset loss last week to fall one point short of the visiting Aquinas. Troy Farrel’s six goals were not enough as they came back from 38 points down at half time to lose by the smallest margin of the day. 
Kew needed to defeat the visiting UHS-VU to ensure they were still in the five tonight and they complied with requirements to win by 33 points. UHS- VU now opening the door to third (and the double chance) to others. 
Whilst the news of Hawthorn’s guaranteed relegation might have brought a smile to some at Old Westbourne this week, the 31 point loss to Elsterwick to will have wiped it away. Mark Dorricott kicked five for the vanquished as did Justin Hunter for the Wickers. 
A week ago it looked that South Mornington had taken all before them in Division 4 and were looking at the perfect season. Not tonight as ELey Park Sharks opened the door to the possibility that the Division 4 premiership might not be celebrated on the peninsula this year. The Sharks were brilliant to win by seven points at home.  
North Brunswick hosted Mt Lilydale and the home side came away with a 45 point win. 
In a high scoring contest Swinburne Uni travelled the short distance to Box Hill North and the Uni side won the spoils 158 to 107 with six goals from Richard Lugg to help Swinburne stay second. 
Chadstone had a visit from Point Cook and the Synners gave the visitors a fright, all square at three quarter time Point Cook kicked away in the last to win by just four goals. 
Manningham Cobras entertained West Brunswick and Scott McPherson did his own entertaining kicking nine for the home side to help them to a 29 point win.