Can't crack the red n black

Old Xavs were too strong at Toorak Park on Saturday. Having held SKOB at arm’s length for most of the contest, Xavs put the foot down in the last and went on to an emphatic 37 point win, consigning the Seniors to their largest loss of the season and dropping them out of the top four. It wasn’t a happy day out at Toorak Park for the tricolours as the Ressies

succumbed to the unbeaten Xavs in the early one. Elsewhere there was some joy to be found for SKOB fans with a mixed bag of results. Wins to the Saints Gold and Green, success for the Academy and SKOB Dogs who both had big wins and another solid win for the 19 Premier team brought some positivity to the ledger, but losses for the Saints Blues, the Stingers and the 19 2s saw that ledger even up at 5-5 across the day.

Not quite Toorak and Ruin

In a highly anticipated clash of two great rivals at the newly minted Toorak Park on a glorious Winter Solstice, it was Xavs who turned out the lights on SKOB Seniors who were gallant, but never quite up to the mark of their opponents. An even start to the game saw the teams trade goals with Xavs having a small lead at the first change. SKOB responded with the opener of the second, but Xavs were able to get on top and grind out a three goal cushion over the remainder of the quarter. The tricolours had their chances but couldn’t land a major blow, and as things started to spice up in the shadows of the half, SKOB went to the sheds 20 points adrift. After the long break it was the home team who got the vital first strike, and although SKOB were able to respond, it was always Xavs hitting the board first and maintaining a 20 odd point cushion throughout.

With it all to play for in the last, Xavs stepped up the pressure and pulled away from the visitors. Once the margin crept over 30 there was no way back for SKOB who were running on the smell of an oily rag by this stage. Wayward kicking in the final term didn’t help the SKOB cause, but it would have made little difference as the red and blacks simply had too much class on the day. Plenty to ponder now for Coach Lynch and his team, but the circus rolls on quickly and the focus will shift to Heyington for the annual game at the school next week against the Bernies who are in the battle for that last spot in the four. Uni Blacks have taken fourth spot and SKOB are out of the bold print for now, so the margin for error has suddenly got thinner. Fortunately, there’s next week to pull it back and time enough for SKOB if they can get back to full strength and form.

Cam Hodges, Sam Barnett, Liam Gunson, Ollie Gill, Ged Saunders and Al Richards were better players for SKOB Seniors on the day.

Ressies Rolled

The Ressies also had a tough day at the office. Yanni was there to capture it all in his report

High Stakes, High Pressure – SKOBs Reserves Tested

The boys arrived in high spirits, ready to clash with their fierce rivals, Old Xaverians. Saturday’s game was pivotal for the SKOBs Reserves to make a statement in the most anticipated game of the season.The SKOBs came into the first quarter with a bang, quickly taking control of the ball. Jack Romanin was influential in giving the boys first hands on the ball, which led to some great scoring opportunities. Although the boys were happy with the outcome of the first quarter, they still felt they could have utilised the scoring end more efficiently. Despite this, they had a solid seventeen-point buffer at the break.The second term began with Xavier turning up the heat and really applying pressure on the boys. The game turned into a fierce contest, it seemed like every fifty-fifty ball and every one-on-one didn’t fall in the boys’ favour. There was, however, an important goal by Jack Ball that halted the momentum and kept the game alive, reducing the deficit to nine points by the half-time break.

Coming out of half-time, knowing they had the scoring end in the third quarter, the boys looked to capitalise in the first ten minutes, but unfortunately their woes continued, they couldn’t seize the goal-scoring opportunities when presented.In the end, the boys couldn’t get the game on their terms in the second half, and unfortunately, it wasn’t to be their day.Looking ahead, the boys are still in a strong position to push for a top-two finish in the run home to the finals, and they look forward to returning home to St Kevin’s Oval against St Bernard’s.

Best for the Reserves were: Tom Burley, Hamish Reimers, Jack Darmody, Sam Milne, Jack Ball and Matthew Canning

Saints shine in Brunswick St Festival

The Saints Gold came back from the bye in the best way possible, with a gutsy win over Fitzroy at Brunswick St Oval. A fabulous scene for women's footy with the Roys hosting at this most treasured venue. The visitors were not getting too sentimental about it all and had the game well in hand as the players went in for the long break. AFter a dominant first quarter returned just 1.2 to zip, the Saints upped the ante in the second term and put on another three goals to take control of the contest. The Roys came out firing after the break and threatened to steal it as they closed to 10 points at the final change, but Coach Tommy's words at the huddle were heeded and the Saints again kept a blank sheet and snagged a sealer in the last quarter to run out comfortable winners. Belinda Woolcock, Emily Condon, Bree Doyle, Elysia Burvill, Mischa Beaconsfield and Molly Wilson were all great contributors on the day for the Saints.

The Blues have had their winning streak halted at the hands of Fitzroy who possessed a little more firepower than the Saints on the day. It's been a good run of late for the Blues and they get another chance to return to the winners list next weekend when they run out on the school oval at St.Kevins. For the Blues, the better players were Caroline Straford, Rachael Wilson, Poppy Somerville, Anne Wallace, Sarah Cameron and Stella Grundmann. Congrats go out to Lucy Kehoe and Brooke Stringer who both chalked up their 50th game for SKOB Saints.

Dreamers Dream with the Green Machine

Back to back wins for the Dreamers as Saints Green claimed their third scalp of the season - this time with a win over Port Melbourne Chargers at Elwood Beach. Coach Mikayla was thrilled with the efforts of the entire Green Machine - but mostly with Sofia Zielonka, Sasha Girski, Gabriela Happell, Brigette Snell, Emily Wallace and Caitlin McDonough

Academy smarten up, Stingers stung again and Dogs go top

The Academy went Dutch on the weekend and came away with a big - and crucial - win over Uni Blues at JJ Holland Park. They needed every bit of percentage too as they stay just ahead of AJAX in that final top four spot. Lucas Mascia and Seb Nugara both picked up a trio of twins whilst Charlie Pammer, Daniel Gambell, Patty Croagh, Stacy Brockwell-Hahn, Justin Willmott and Lucas Mascia were named as the better of the Academy bunch.

Our Stingers were stung for a second successive weekend as they navigate player availability through the European summer months. Old Xavs had too much talent of the Park for the Stingers who hold fourth spot on the table but need to return to winning ways quickly. Otis Trail, Luca Gambell, Lachie Haig, James Hill, Cooper Lanyon and Max Day all tried hard for the Stingers.

At TH King, “SuperCoach” Sam Doyle was back to his best as he guided his young SKOB Dogs to a thumping win over previous ladder leaders St Bedes. The win catapulted SKOB into the top spot of the division as we pass the half way point of the season. A feast of players hit the scoresheet whilst Liam Hepburn, Josh Bayley, Edward Harmon, Patrick Jones, Lachie Groves and Oli Garlick were the best of the hounds.

SKOB storm home again - 2’s Krushed

Another week, another big final quarter by the Under 19 Premier team. This time shaking off a determined Caulfield for three quarters then putting them to the sword in a final term blitz, booting 6.6 to 1.0 and almost doubling their tally from their first three quarters in the process. Coach Greeny definitely happy that his side is showing the fitness to go the full four terms, but also wary that the opposition is more than capable of getting the jump on his team. It shows plenty that they are able to respond, and this week, without the availability of Rising Star and leading goal kicker Lucas May, the coach found any number of willing players ready to step up and hit the scoreboard in the absence of the spearhead. Best for the Premier boys were Dom Portelli, Liam Edwards, Matthew Redenbach, Nicholas Hulls, Johnathon Gambaro and Mark O'Mahony.

In the Under 19 2s this game was always dubbed as a “banana peel” match up against a team without a win, but who had showed they were much better than their win loss record showed. Coach Joey’s boys rueing some wayward kicking as they went down by a point agains the bottom team Oakleigh. The shock loss might be just what the 19 2s needed to sharpen their focus as we head into the back half of the season. Liam Cornish, Hugh Williams, Hugo Baker, Joseph Smith, Jacob Choi and Jacob McMillan were the best for the 19 2s