After two disappointing weeks, the 19’s were looking to bounce back and show that they can hopefully be a force in the competition.
Back home at Stradbroke Park and in perfect conditions for football, the players jumped out of the blocks and played probably their best quarter for the year. This started in the middle of the ground where Dom Walker was getting first touch of the ball and feeding his midfield brigade of Harangozo, Curtain and Nidam. Dan Curtain was at his extracting best whilst Tristan Parker and Louis Tiernan were also providing plenty of run for the side and generally resulting with great delivery into the Xavs forward line.
Brendan Goss was at his dangerous best again kicking 3 in the 1st stanza and Tom McClusky created a presence in the forward line.
St Bedes kicked the first couple of goals in the 2nd quarter and refused to go away, but Jackson McGrath bobbed up and kicked 2 goals in the space of five minutes to keep the visitors at bay. Patty Ambrose came back into the side and was at his bustling best, kicking 4 and having a hand in a couple of others. The backline was back to its best, led by Will Moloney’s courageous straight line running and also Ed Maas who kept a very dangerous CHF for the Saints very quiet. With tempers boiling and the Xavs increasing the lead, half time couldn’t come quick enough for the visitors.
After the main break the Mentonians came out with a bang, kicking 4 goals to 3 in the third quarter.
Coming in at 3 quarter time, the home side was determined to really drive home a big win. It couldn’t have worked out any better for the claret and stout as they piled on 5 goals to 1 in the last quarter and finished the game in the same fashion as they started it. Text book midfield work and again some fine finishing was the theme of the day and the Young Xavs ran away victors on home soil once again.
Next for the Under’s is a clash against 4th place Uni Blues, who are on the same amount of points and only behind there opponents in percentage at this early stage of the year. It shapes up to be a mouth watering clash against the Varsity and everyone will be looking forward to the challenge. Hope to see you next Saturday at Stradbroke Park from 2pm.