STUDENT UPRISING

It’s great to have the footy back. Having a week off would have been welcomed but it is great to have a full compliment of matches this weekend. Even if most finished in almost night football like conditions. Could it be the year of the University? University teams occupy outright or equal top spot, or second spot in four of the seven sections. 
There was no doubt the game at Toorak Park would attract a crowd and it certainly delivered on that front. So too did the new Old Xaverians coaching team as Xavs recorded their second win of the year over a gallant De La Salle by an even five goals. Xaverians established control of the contest early but there were some nervous natives as De La reduced the gap to 12 points in the third quarter. Unfortunately for he neutrals, De La’s charge ended there, failing to score after the final change of ends and ensuring Old Xaverians moved from the foot of the table and out of the relegation places with a much needed win. 
St Bedes/Mentone Tigers are now propping up Premier Section thanks to their 29 point home defeat to the ladder leaders University Blacks. St Bedes/Mentone finished the game strongly but not before Blacks had established a game winning lead. Adam Pattison’s four goals was best for Blacks whilst Pat Liston also bagged four for the Tigers. Mark Passador’s six goals was a welcome return for the Cardinals as Old Scotch ran out 20 point winners over Collegians at Camberwell. Collegians reduced the deficit late and the match had the hallmarks of another Old Scotch surrender, however the home troops responded and held off the Lions who they now trade places with on the ladder. 
Old Trinity again demonstrated that they are not early season wonders, with another good road win, bouncing back from a loss the week before. The T’s and Old Brighton went toe to toe for much of the afternoon in the Premier B Grand Final rematch, but a scoreless last term for the Tonners saw their two game winning streak come to an end. Old Trinity return to third, whilst Old Brighton return to the bottom two in ninth. 
St Bernard’s booted six goals before Beaumaris could manage a score at the Snakepit, however the Sharks were far from disgraced. Whilst the home side always had Beaumaris under control, the final margin was only 30 points. Scott Gower kicked four goals for the visitors. 

In Premier B the match all matches were decided by under a couple of kicks except the match featuring the highest ranked sides. St Kevin’s started the game on fire but couldn’t convert any of their chances in the opening term at University Blues. Despite the game situation Blues eventually asserted their authority and extended their lead at every change to eventually run out winners by 94 points. Just two goals for the match for a St Kevin’s side badly out of form, they drop to fourth after losing their third game in a row. 
However, other teams around SKOB slipped up too, meaning the race for the double chance is wide open. AJAX refound their groove with a 12 point home win over Old Carey. A seven goal third term and five goals from Fayman were enough for the Jackers to take their season to 5-4 at the turn. Laidlaw kicked four for the Panthers who retain a shaky hold on second. 
Mazenod probably didn’t need the bye as it has cost them the momentum they were building, going down to the visiting Caulfield Grammarians by seven points. The loser of the low scoring arm wrestle would find themselves in the bottom two and that’s where the Nodders lie at the half-way mark. 
Old Melburnians jumped out of the gate brilliantly in their opening term against visiting Fitzroy, but the Roy’s had their own brilliant showing in the second term to take a one point advantage into the main break. The Roys had more scoring shots for the match and probably deserved their four point win. 
Old Haileybury travelled to Old Ivanhoe with trepidation, but came away with the spoils as they held on defeat the Hoes by 19 points. The win again sees last year’s Premier C Grand Finalists occupy the bottom two at the half way point of the year. 

In Premier C, Marcellin fell short of PEGS in one of the most difficult road trips in the section. PEGS won by 28 points over the ladder leaders and moved into the four in Daniel Flaherty’s 200th game. Skurrie kicked four for the Bombers whilst Flaherty managed 3 goals of his own. 
Peninsula rediscovered how to win, defeating the visiting Ormond by 37 points at Mt Eliza. 
Banyule had their closest result of the year, but close is still not a win. This time the Bears went down to Parkdale Vultures by just 14 points. Hay kicked five for the visiting Bears, whilst Hampton booted four for the Vultures. 
Monash Blues are second and hot on the heels of Marcellin after they completed another big 56 point win over Oakleigh. 
Hampton Rovers held Old Camberwell scoreless in the last quarter, the Rovers running out 26 point winners. Ed Turner kicked five goals as the Rovers moved into third spot.