July 25, 2026
R13: VILLAGE NEWS
All's well in the garden
A Century of the Red & Black
Ones, Twos take down Snoew Dogs, but a bad day for the WOX and U19 programs.
Old Xaverians overcame a desperate and relentless St Bernard's at the Snakepit in a gripping contest of wills and skills. The four-point victory to the visitors was well short of the expected scoreboard result, but the Red 'n Blacks will happily take the premiership points to keep them in a pole position for the double chance.
A close game did not seem on the cards as Xavs dominated the first quarter and the early second. Debutant Liam Danielis-Morley nearly had his head ripped off in the fourth minute of the game but had the composure to punt through the Xavs first goal with his first kick. A little later, Makuc Mahommed, playing his first senior game after returning recently from long-term injury, copped a high tackle and left the field. Many wondered if that was the last we would see of him for another few weeks. Happily, it wasn't. He returned, but he looked somewhat rusty and prone to turnovers.
Plenty of his teammates appeared to be afflicted with the same tendency, but in many instances, those errors were unforced and a result of disposal that was a litle bit too relaxed. And a little too costly, too.
For the second week in a row, the opposition punished the Xaverian giveaways. When Ed Delany marked a big one and converted at the fifteen munute mark of the second term, the visitors led by 36 points. The Snow Dogs booted the next four goals to trail by just 14 at the long break, and then booted the first two of the third quarter to trail by just three points at 12 minutes. But momentum swung back to the X-Men, who booted four of the next five to take a 21-point lead to the lemons.
No, it wasn't enough. The Pups, kicking with the wind in the final stanza, booted three goals in seven minutes, then split the centre again at 16 minutes to take the lead. Marcus Stavrou tapped a throw-in to Sam Fisher, who goaled from a stoppage to give the Claret and Stout the lead at 21 minutes. Bernies continued to attack but Makuc Mahommed had found his Superman cape. He foiled the home team repeatedly until time ran out, with his signature piece a towering pack mark that thwarted the Pitters seconds before the siren.
Despite the win, the X-Men still have plenty to do, but the brainstrust will be encouraged with some of what they saw today. Tommy McRae was very effective, Julian Gangi spectacular around the sticks, Charlie Westcott and Sammy Hansen hitting in all around the park and Sam Fisher and Jack O'Sullivan displaying plenty of silk when most needed. Big Ed Delany was powerful in the air again as a forward and a chop-out to Oscar Duncan in the ruck.
Next week, another Toorak Park scrap with Old Brighton, who seem likely to be strengthened with some big inclusions. The Tonners have won their last two on Orrong Road, and five of their last eight. Coach Donati will be keen to smash that trend.
Uni Blues (120) moved into top spot with a home win over hapless Haileybury (23). At Camberwell, aresurgent Old Scotch (87) finished too strongly for St Kevin's (60). Caulfield (81) were in trouble at Glen Huntly with Uni Blacks (125) owning them, and their hopes of finals appear forlorn. Old Trinity (56) led early at the Daley, but Old Brighton (67) put them away. With five to play, it's hard to see too many changes at the top. Old Trinity and Old Haileybury both look vulnerable. Will it be onre of them, or both that go down? Only St Bernard's can decide that, and should they play as well as thyey did yesterday, they can still survive. Their run home: @ Haileybury; v Caulfield; @ Blues; v Brighton; v Trinity.
St Bernard's, as expected, were plucky, but in the end proved no match for the visiting Red 'n' Blacks, whose tall firepower enable the league leader to pull away after the first break.
Ted Kennedy booted six and was best on ground. When the Senator is on, he is virtually unstoppable and he led the Pitters a merry dance yesterday. Bailey Whelan booted three in another solid effort. The brothers Bowen were very effective across the park and big Ben Moyle was again the straw that stirred the drink with his great work in the ruck.
Still, the Snowies wre - and are - no easybeats, as they proved last week when they tossed third-placed Uni Blacks. They still have an outside chance of making the four should Brighton not fire as they did early in the season.
The WOX could manage just the solitary goal against Old Melburnians on a day where scoring was obviously difficult at Elsternwick Park. The Red 'n' Blacks remain fourth on percentage ahead of Williamstown, whom they play in a fortnight. As each of them play a team higher and a team lower on the ladder, that home contest with CYs might determine a finals place.
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Again, lack of numbers prevented the tream for taking the field. The team sits fourth on the ladder, can play finals, but must get a team on the park.
The hot U19s fell to seventh-placed Uni Blues at Crawford and subsequently fell from second to fifth.
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The U19 Twos crash landed at the runway to third-placed PEGS. With four rounds to play, Xavs are fourth and have their destiny in their own hands. However, a precarious percentage could spell danger should they lnot keep winning.
