July 20, 2024
CLOUDS CLEARING?
Week 14: Blue skies for some
A Century of the Red & Black
Week 6 was the ultimate mixed bag for the Red 'n' Blacks. That's footy, as they say.
Old Brighton inflicted a world of hurt on Old Xaverians when it slapped them by 66 points. The loss is the third largest at Toorak Park in a dozen or more years, eclipsing the 63 point drubbing by Uni Blues in 2019, and falling in just behind the 67 point loss to St Bernard’s in 2015.
Again, the Red ‘n’ Blacks were sluggish at the outset. Their only reward in the first term came at ten minutes when Charlie McIsaac marked strongly and goaled, but apart from some promising passages that came to little, the home team was outplayed. But not by much. The Tonners did not capitalise on a couple of lazy efforts with the ball from the home team and just 7 points separated them at the first change.
After last week’s performance, there might have been some wondering where Xavs’ goalswould come from. Certainly, the first term hadn’t provided a comprehensive answer. But would the second?
Jesse Palmer marked strongly and goaled early in the stanza, but that’s all there was. Brighton added three more and the Xavs went to the long break 20 points adrift.
If things looked gloomy, they were about to look darker still. Three more goals from the Tonners begged ar esponse from the Red ‘n Blacks, but their two goals and five minutes of sunshine ended with two more slots from the visitors as time expired in the third term. Xavs faced a 40 point deficit with a quarter to play. As Ross Lyon would say , ‘it wasn’t ideal’.
Brighton scored in the first minute and again at three minutes. There was no way out of this for the Claret and Stout. There were three more to the visitors before big Al Spralja, looking every week more like Michael Blood, kicked the X-Men’s fifth.
The Tonners were very good, and put in an all-round solid team effort that was too powerful for the X-Men. Brighton has enjoyed an excellent start to the year and will be around when the whips are cracking.
In contrast,there were some solid individual performances from the home team, but these rarely produced the passages of team play so vital in going forward to find the sticks.
Xavs have an eight-day break before tackling Blues under the spires on Sunday. At stake is the Carmody Cup, which the Red 'n' Blacks have not yet ceded, but also four premiership points that are needed so badly.
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Round 5 saw the table begin to fracture.
Old Xaverians stayed unbeaten after defeating Old Brighton by ten points at Toorak Park. It was a tense affair, with several lead changes, and it was only late in the piece when Xavs found some luck and composure to notch two late goals that gave them the points.
There was plenty of heat in the opening stanza, which was played at a quick pace. There were turnovers and ball-handling errors as the Red 'n' Blacks confronted the strongest opponent they'd seen in a month. Old Brighton had the best of the first term and were looking strong again in the second. The X-Men found the lead at 13 minutes but lost it a minute later. The scoring dried up until just before the siren, but Xavs conceded a mark in front of the sticks. The teams went to the porta-sheds with the new minimalist scoreboard showing the home team was ten points in arrears.
The Claret and Stout tightened in the third term, holding the Tonners scoreless. For themselves, they scored 3.3, with majors coming from Hayden Troiani, Tommy Simmons and a beauty on the run from Connor Dunne which saw the home team hold an 11 point advantage at the lemons.
It was Brighton, however, who jumped the stronger in the fourth, reducing the deficit early, then taking the lead on some poor choices and execution from the home team. At 13 minutes, Hamish MacIsaac goaled from a set shot and the Xavs were up by a point. At 16 minutes, the teams were locked together at 60 apiece. The Red 'n' Blacks failed to clear and the Tonners went ahead when a set shot clipped the left upright. At 19 minutes, another Brighton set shot and another miss. At 22 minutes the Senator goaled to put the X-Men back in front. It was Ted Kennedy's first for the day, a nice bit of work at the back of the pack. Then Tom Simmons marked and goaled within the final minute and the Red 'n' Blacks won their fifth on end for the season.
The WOX worked hard at Brindisi Street, but were unable to jump over St Bede's Mentone Tigers outfit. Veteran Amy Benifer showed plenty for the Red 'n' Blacks, while Maggie Gaffney booted two goals in the team's Premier B debut.
A tremendous first half saw the WOX defeat the Seasiders in the curtainraiser at Brindidsi Street.
Details to come.
The Red 'n Blacks overcame a first quarter deficit to defeat perennial U19 rival De La Salle at Stradbroke Park. Tom Gorman was best, while Charlie Christopher's three goals were of great value in the nine point win.
Old Xaverians went down to Old Haileyburians, who enjoyed an early and late ascendancy. Ed Nelson and Harry West booted two apiece and Hec McLean was best for thre vanquished.
The young Xaverians looked every inch winners for three quarters, but could not withstand the brutal final term. In the end, the Red 'n' Blacks were smashed by a strong side, though things had looked optimistic before the lemons. Danny Calvert booted six in the loss and was accorded BOG honours. Bridget Wilson Gallery
Xavs had to work hard to topple the Green Machine, but broke things open in the third term, and rolled away further in the last to take the points. Sam Purcell was best among a solid lot, booting five goals in the win.
Xavs beat Beaumaris under ligths by 111 points in a brillianr team performance. Rory Calvert slotted ten in the big victory .
Josh Lyon booted nine as the Emerald Hose played spicy football to topple Masala. Stinger Stanley was BOG on the day, though he had plenty of mates.
Old Xavs lit up the scoreboard in a huge 239 point win at St James Park. Sixteen players put their names on the scoresheet in the rout, topped by Will Sheedy, who bagged six .
