Uni Blues maintained their status as premiership favourites when they wiped Old Xaverians by 51 points at Elsternwick Park today. The minor premier dominated the Red 'n' Blacks after quarter time and squelched any suggestions of a comeback with a powerful display in all facets of the game.

Xavs had first use of a light breeze, but Blues opened the scoring with a couple of points and then at six minutes, a goal from a defensive turnover. Ollie Sestan immediately replied with an around-the-corner snap after Alwyn Davey had cleverly negotiated the boundary line and put the ball up for grabs near the behind post.

Blues attacked, Xavs rebounded, but twice missed. Scores level, 13 minutes in and the game was moving at a cracking pace and bith teams were under extreme pressure. Xavs repelled another attack,moving forward with precision, but wasted another opportunity.  

Clever work from Woodhouse in tight confines provided another opportunity but the kick from Stirling Phipps-Parsons was touched through. At 25 minutes, the wind caught his next shot and took it wide. Xavs, up by two points, needed to recalibrate their radar. At 26 minutes, Blues went ahead with a snap from close range and on the siren at 29 minutes, should have had another.

The first term had been an even affair and the number of shots reflected that. The Xavs defence seemed in no real trouble, apart from a propensity to turn the ball over with errant foot-passing. Forward of centre, the lack of real quality shots was a worry, brought about by Blues organised set-up at the back.

The breeze had moved to favour the Claret and Stout but it was Blues who struck first again at 4 minutes after a long buildup in their forward line. They did it again at six minutes after sweeping forward with purpose. At ten minutes, yet more trouble for the Red ‘n’ Blacks as Blues' overlap run produced their fifth goal. Xavs’ intensity visibly lifted a notch but still Blues came, exertinge normous pressure and ensuring any penetration ended with a turnover. Sestan marked strongly but hit the post from outside the arc. Delany goaled at 16 minutes after Blues failed to clear. It was a long overdue response that left the X-Men 18 points adrift. At 20 minutes, a chain that began deep in defence with Alex Trigar looked promising, but again, the shot went wide. A minute later. Trigar saved the day with a lunge on the line, but at 24 minutes, Blues struck again. And then again, after another turnover. Then, thankfully, the siren, after a quarter that had proven costly. 29 points separated them and Coach Donati would have been searching for answers.

It got worse, with Blues taking advantage of a mismatch for another goal at 3 minutes. It took them another 3 minutes to get their next, but it came after a long bomb that favoured their runners. Finally, at 20 minutes, Bobby Knott kicked the X-Men’s fourth. Again, Xavs swept forward from defence, their smoothest passage yet, but the shot went wide. Again they came, and this time Charlie MacIsaac kicked the goal. Back to 29 points, the half-time margin. But with all the momentum, Xavs couldn’t reduce the deficit. Instead, Blues increased it. Twice. 41 points to the Varsity as they went to the lemons.

Again, Blues drew first blood and the margin drifted to 47 points. MacIsaac replied at 10 minutes when Davey found him alone in the square. At 12 minutes, Phipps-Parsons was the beneficiary of another nice move by Davey and goaled around the corner. At 15 minutes, the Blues booted another and as they moved into time-on,  yet another. And again, their 15^th goal that raised their hundred. Xavs were along way back. Charlie Westcott goaled, just the Red ‘n’ Blacks’ seventh for the day, and the day was lost.

Next week, another chance against St Kevin’s, whose spirited fightback against a loaded Old Brighton showed they are a force to be reckoned with.