Big comebacks and a season-first draw headlines Round 14

Another round of the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s competition in the books and finals football approaches hastily.

It was Friday night where Round 14 would kick-off, Old Brighton up against Beaumaris. Under the lights of Banksia Reserve, the Brighton boys were determined for victory, after last week’s mishap against De La Salle.

The Sharks, flailing in last position on the ladder, looked upbeat and determined to upset their opposition’s finals charge. However, it was never to be, Old Brighton controlling the contest from the outset to run away as resounding 77-point winners.

Mason Szyoni resumed his red-hot form, whilst Sebastian Watters and Oliver Goodger proved to be valuable. James Hope also had an enjoyable Friday night out, bagging five goals.

Alex Ward and Matthew Moody shone for the Sharks on the weekend, as they continue their search for another win in season 2024.  They will again reprise their role under Friday night lights against St Bedes/Mentone Tigers this week.

Moving further into the round, University Blues prevailed over Williamstown CYMS on Saturday morning. In relatively poor conditions, the wet and wild weather didn’t deter the Blue boys, winning by 23-points.

Clinging to a 5-point lead heading into the final break, Johnny Pring and George McCull expertly navigated the contest. Luca Di Lallo and Sam Litras made the footy look dry down forward, both ending the day with two goals.

Williamstown, unable to make finals in 2024, proved they are not done with just yet. Isaac Gawne, Pierce Farrell and Noah Hannaford were strong, albeit in a loss.

Later in the Saturday schedule, the match of the day saw Old Xaverians and De La Salle battle it out fiercely, only to split premiership points. The game, a draw in the end, would see both sides refusing to give the other an inch.

Sheets of rain falling from the sky, and chilling winds blowing across the ground, supporters who braved Melbourne’s late-July weather would be treated to one of the games of the year.

Goals, a rare commodity on the day due to the conditions, would be celebrated.  Ed Dalton and captain Harry Bird lead from the front all day for Old Xavs, whilst De La’s stars Mack Higginbotham and Joshua Stewart shone in the miserable conditions.

It seemed unfitting, unjust, to not award a winner on the day. Players braved the conditions to play with fierce and unrivalled passion, only to walk away from the contest with an empty feeling.

De La Salle again showed character, fighting from behind to register the drawn result. De La continues to defy the odds, constantly disproving the naysayers in the latter half of the year. After failing to register a win in the opening nine rounds, De La haven’t dropped a game in over a month.

For their opposition, it was a disappointing result. Willing themselves all day, Old Xaverians failed to put their opposition away. It was a brutal blow for their final’s ambitions, as they now fall behind the 8-ball.

They sit fifth on the Holmesglen ladder and face an uphill battle to feature in September action.

Over at TH King oval, St Kevin’s defeated Old Scotch in a shock result, one that will have intense ramifications on the season.

Requiring a victory against the new ladder-leaders, SKOB were initially poor. Basic skill-errors and wayward goal kicking would eventuate in a 26-point lead for opposition Scotch heading into the main break.

Henry Long, Jake Phillips and Jasper Hassoun were excellent, leading Old Scotch into a commanding position heading into the second half.

Facing a monumental task, SKOB would be faced with its most daunting task of the year and didn’t they deliver!

In what could be only described as the opposite of the first half, the old Boys flipped the game on its head. They ran rampant, snatching back momentum to conclude the quarter four goals to one, and level with Scotch heading into the final quarter.

Such dominance would allow for the side to ride momentum and cruise to a 13-point victory.

Sebastian McNamara, Xavier Duke and Benjamin Palmer powered their side to the win, keeping their season well and truly alive and knocking ladder leaders off their perch.

Such a performance acts as a stark reminder of the closeness of the entire competition, and that no team is safe at any given time.

The final contest of round 14, would see St Bedes/Mentone Tigers overcome an early scare to beat Caulfield Grammarians by eight points at Glen Huntly Park.

Also fighting for a finals spot, SBMT were in dire need of victory. Such an opportunity wouldn’t be easy against a Caulfield side starving for a win.

Trailing by a singular point heading into the final break, the Tigers were challenged immensely in trying conditions.

For Caulfield, Rory Wright and Thomas Williams supplied some exciting passages of play to gift their side the lead heading into the final stages of the contest.

Wet and cold conditions at Glen Huntly Park would pose as a difficult challenge for the Tigers, who needed to win to keep the flame of their season flickering.

What would require a strong performance, would get just that, as they mustered a late charge in quarter four. An all-round solid team performance would gift St Bedes/Mentone an 8-point win.

Cooper Donnellan, Bennett Martin and Finn Chandler were amongst the best for the victors, whilst livewire forward Liam Bowles slotted four goals to get his side home.

Looking onwards to next week’s proceedings, the blockbuster matchups continue. St Bedes/Mentone will look to continue their winning ways against a struggling Beaumaris under lights, whilst a mouth-watering contest between Old Scotch and Uni Blues will take place on the Saturday.

Old Xaverians will look to bounce back against Old Brighton, De La Salle will look to continue their unbeaten run against Williamstown CYMS, and St Kevin’s will play against Caulfield Grammarians.