August 1, 2026
R14 IN THE VILLAGE
23s Stun, Croc shock
A Century of the Red & Black
A mixed day for men and women's teams wearing red and black.
Old Brighton won their third on end at Toorak Park as the Red 'n' Blacks fell to their third home loss this season. The visitors, fielding a stronger side than they have for weeks, resisted every challenge from the X-Men and led from wire-to-wire.
The earlier contests had shown that the High Street end was favoured by the wind. The Beach Boys attacked furiously in the early stages, applying the pressure. Six of their nine first term shots, including four goals, came from turnovers. The X-Men managed 3.2 at the Apartment End, staying close enough, but not taking full advantage of their opportunities.
In the second stanza, the Red 'n' Blacks did a better job of containing the Tonners through increased pressure. The visitors' turnovers accounted for every Xavs' score, but again, the home team kicked inaccurately. At the break, the Beachies led by five points.
Again, the Tonners raced away in the third term, adding another five goals. They managed another 5.1 while Xavs squandered chances at the other end. At the lemons, the margin had blown out to 21 points and a Xavs' victory seemed improbable. But the X-Men wouldn't lie down. They began well with three goals and at nine minutes, the difference was in to four points. Inevitably, Brighton found their previous steadiness and pushed away again. The home team continued to press, but their only other scores for the term came in time-on, when the game was effectively done.
Coach Donati noted that Brighton had achieved aerial ascendancy, and that was evident with the Tonners scoring 5.1 from marks in their forward arc. For their part, Xavs couldn't convert from their fewer set shots. As well as missing the big sticks, the home team missed the lot on too many occasions, mainly from the pockets, and failed to make the distance from close-in with the wind on two occasions.
It was a vigorous contest all afternoon and both teams played fast, skilful football. Brighton did it better today and with other results going their way, appear to have locked down their finals' spot.
Xavs were served best by Marcus Stavrou, who despite the close attention, played superbly. His blind spin out of a couple of tackles which he converted into a running goal was not only one of the final term highlights but one of the goals of the year.
Bobby Knott, playing game one hundred, booted four and was a livewire all day, and his mate Charlie Westcott was strong in the clinches and a reliable option all day. Stirling Phipps-Parsons, Sam Fisher and Olllie Sestan showed plenty of class and gave the home team a lot of drive. Their efforts might have produced a victory on many other days.
Next week, a return trip to Uni Oval to meet the Blacks, who are enjoying a purple patch. The Red 'n' Blacks have won comfortably there in the past two seasons after a long run of outs. They'll need to play well again to ensure they take the points into the following week's home clash with St Kevin's.
Old Trinity (58) kicked the final two goals at the Daley to tie it up with Caulfield Grammarians (58). No joy there for the Hoops,but none either for the Ts, who have now fallen to ninth. Uni Blues (114) smashed Old Scotch (47), virtually ending the Cardinals' shot at fourth spot. Old Haileybury (88) survived a big challenge from St Bernard's (86) at Parc des Princes. The Snowdogs came late with three goals but it wasn't enough and a drop to Premier B seems inevitable. St Kevin's (54) squeaked home over Uni Blacks (51) at TH King, with only one goal and a handful of minor scores in the final term. The fight to avoid relegation is on in earnest.
A slow start from the home team saw Old Brighton skip away, but the X-Men recovered, as they usually do, to get the points at Toorak Park. It was a high pressure game in perfect conditions and scorig was at a premium. Most significant perhaps was the form of tall defenders Jed Fenely and Ben Andrews, while Will Bowen continues to knock on the door.
Next week's clash with third-placed Uni Blacks should be another solid hitout for Dan Richardson's team. The Phoenix put another hole in St Kevin's finals' chances yesterday.
The Red 'n' Blacks fell to a strong Beaumaris team, the league leaders. Hannah Deane was best and slotted two goals, but the home team was just too strong. The WOX are in fifth spot, a game and a few percentage points behind Williamstown, whom they meet next week. A win against the CYs at Basil next week could prople the Xavs over Willy, and then it will come down to the final round, when both aspirants meet the two bottom teams. Margins matter!
Gabby Golds' team clipped Wattle Park to jump into third place and ensure a place in the final four. The WOX got away early and never let up. Their accuracy was better than the Parkers and Coach Golds will happy that seven of her players hit the scoreboard. Xavs play the seventh and tenth ranked teams to close the home and away season and they have a chance to seize second spot with the top two playing each other in a fortnight's time.
Old Xaverians beat Beaumaris in an entertaining contest at Stradbroke Park. The X-Men opened up the game after a tight first quarter and moved away methodically.
Big V U19 rep Sam Nicklaus, under some scrutiny for possible promotion, was again best afield, while Charlie Landrigan booted four in the rout.
Xavs sit third but face the two teams above them in their last month and must continue to win.
A poor first half saw the 19 Twos kick themselves out of it aganst fourth-ranked Parkside to make finals' qualification more difficult. Their second half was an even affair, but it was all too late to salvage the day. The three game run home features clashes with two of the teams above them.
