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TRIG AND PIG GET BIG IN COMEBACK WIN AT THE UNI

The Carmody Cup still bears no Uni Blues fingerprints, with Old Xaverians coming late at Uni Oval to win a low scoring affair and retain the cup for the third time, after winning in 2022 when it was first struck.

Blues won a tight joust in the opening term and led all theway to the time-on period in the last, when Nick Guiney goaled from a great tackle with 22:22 on the clock. Xavs’ fans roared approval as I’m sure Richie Benaud would have recognised the importance and symmetry of the moment, for it had been Guiney who had also kicked the first of his three goals to give the visitors their only lead at 22 minutes of the first term.  

The interregnum, saw Blues hold the lead and stretch it to 23 points, which given the lack of scoring, should have been enough. It wasn’t and the Varsity fell to 1-4 under the spires this season after the Claret and Stout applied pressure all over the ground to win their fifth of the season.

The X-Men have dropped just one on the road, a narrow defeat by St Kevin’s. Today, it was defenders Alex Trigar and Tommy Dunne who led the charge. Along with Jack Whitehead and Hayden Woodhouse, they gave little away to the Blues forwards. The Xavs on-ball brigade had plenty of the Sherrin and moved it with speed, and some times, great precision. In fact, by foot, Xavs were more effective than the home team. Both Campbell Lane, who kicked Xavs' last goal to seal the game, and Sam Fisher had over 30 touches, and Xavs had seven of the ten players who scored more than 100 rankings points.

There were plenty of great individual moments. Trigar, Charlie MacIsaac and debutant Hamish MacIsaac all took brilliant marks in the final term when the pressure was on, though the men in green somehow ignored Mish's obvious and rightful claim. Coach Donati will be pleased that his team hung in when the tide was against it, and ecstatic when it pounced to seize the day.

Next week, a return to Toorak Park to battle with old foe Collegians. The Lions have struggled so far this campaign but they have in recent seasons shown a propensity to recover from slow starts. The Purples are a proud club who have enjoyed some success on Orrog Road and their threat should not be under-estimated.

BEST: Alex Trigar, Thomas Dunne, Samuel Fisher, Marcus Stavrou, Campbell Lane, Denis Symeopoulos

GOALS: Nick Guiney 3, Charlie MacIsaac 2, Stirling Phipps-Parsons 2, Campbell Lane 1, Alec Spralja 1, Denis Symeopoulos 1, Charlie Westcott 1

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Collegians (48) were smashed by Old Brighton (99) at the Lake. St Bernard's (55) is still winless at home after Old Scotch (135) torched them. De La Salle (36) made few inroads at home when they fell to University Blacks (106). Old Haileybury (68) outlasted St Kevin's (56) in the surprise of the round.

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CAVALRY ARRIVES, LATER THAN USUAL

The Magoos won a beauty against highly-touted Uni Blues, staying unbeaten and retaining top spot by a game from St Kevin's.

The X-Men led at the first change by a couple of points, but lost that advantage in the second term when the Blues booted four goals. The 14 point deficit at the long break was no shock given the quality of the opposition. However. any cause for concern was perhaps premature. The Xavs, in the past couple of seasons, at least, have proven themselves to be one of the great second half teams and again they did not disappoint.

Pulling to within a goal by lemon time, they held Blues to one scoring shot in the final term, while they themselves rampaged, coming home with 11 shots that yielded three goals, more than enough to see them in the winners' circle again.

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BEST: Hugh Basset, Oscar Duncan, Charlie Whitehead, Connor Dunne, Julian Gangi, Hayden Troiani

GOALS: Hugh Basset 2, Hayden Troiani 2, Harrison Bell 1, Liam Danielis-Morley 1, Oscar Duncan 1, Matt Exell 1, Julian Gangi 1, Edward Kennedy 1

The WOX had the bye.

RED 'n' BLACKS DRUBBED BY SKEVS

St Kevin's bolted away to a massive victory over the Red 'n' Blacks at Stradbroke Park. The Tricolours were hard to stop and difficult to score against, winning the game by half-time. All eight teams have now played each other and the Red 'n' Blacks' position is precarious as the section begins its second pass-through.

BEST: Henry Lasscock, Tommy Trist, Alby Hewitt, Ted Hansen, Ned Rogers, Adam Rizzo

GOALS: Ted Hansen, Alby Hewitt

MONDERS WIN BIG

Ormond took care of business against the Xavs, restricting them to just a single goal that came in the final quarter.

Best: William McNamara, Patrick Kennedy, Matthew Sheehan, George Pick, Jeremy Dalton, Max Lightbody

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P3s BLOW BLUES AWAY

Another strong performance from the Thirds, laying waste to Uni Blues by 68 points.

Tom Bourne continued his outdtanding form and Will MacIsaac booted six in splendid fashion.

BEST: Tom Bourne, Nick Honeyman, Will MacIsaac, Charlie Cranderson, Oliver Britten-Jones, Oliver Tehan

GOALS: Will MacIsaac 6, Charlie Bourne 3, Francis O’Callaghan 2, Jez Alexeyeff 1, Tom Comer 1, Sam Purcell 1, Connor Spears 1

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DILES BITE LATE TO BEAT SNOW DOGS

The Green Hose trailed at every siren excepth the one that counts, barging their way to a ten point victory with six goals to one in the final term.

BEST: Alex Eden Lachowicz, Edward Ralph, Jack Lowe, William Bryce, Sean Stanley, Joshua Nelson

GOALS: Edward Ralph 3, William Bryce 2, Adam MacIsaac 2, Charles Connors 1, Jack Lowe 1, Tiernan O'Brien 1

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BEST: Will Thomas, Nick Nunan, James Forrest, Edison Ponari, John Kenny, Louis Denton

GOALS: James Forrest 4, Louis Denton 1, Rory Calvert 1

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23s BELT BLACKS

Paul Connors' and Andrew McLaughlin's boys took out Uni Blacks with a resounding victory. The margin was 66 points, with the X-Men dominating the first three terms before a more even contest in the final stanza. Thirteen Xavs scored goals as the visitors bolted from the gate and never eased until the game was well in the bag.

BEST: Oscar Smart, Aaron Ivak, Oliver Sheehan, Eddie Paul, Luca Santalucia,Thomas Wood

GOALS: Oliver Sheehan 2, Will Troy 2, William Wrigley 2, Joshua Camilleri 1, Archie Connors 1, Jack Forde 1, Charlie Hummerston 1, Aaron Ivak 1, Luke McCarthy 1, Eddie Paul 1, Edward Pick 1, Stefan Stangherlin 1, Thomas Wood 1

T-BIRDS SKATE ON

Another big win for the U23 Twos, disposing of Old Ivanhoe with relative ease. An enormous second term proved the big difference as the Red 'n' Blacks slammed on seven goals to one to open up a matchwinning lead by half-time.

BEST: Will Beattie, Nicky Tyrrell, Charles Ralph, Luke Fares, Harry West, Conor O'Brien

GOALS: Conor O'Brien 3, James McCarthy 2, Benjamin Sherman 2, Will Beattie 1, Ethan Browne 1, Jackson Gomezel 1, Joshua Hynes 1, Charles Ralph 1

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