St Bedes Mentone Tigers grabbed a place in the VAFA ‘A’ Grade 2nd semi final against flag favourites Collegians, when results from other games went their way, after losing at home to Old Ivanhoe – the form team of the last 7 rounds.
The Tigers were jumped by Old Ivanhoe and were fortunate to claw their way back to a 1 point lead at the first change
St Bedes then re-visited their form of the previous week with a dominating second quarter of hard running, tackling and team football to take a 23 point lead into half time.
Old Ivanhoe hit back after the break and only for sterling defence by Jonathon Kane and Paul Wintle the Tigers would have been behind at 3/4 time.
The last quarter was all on-way traffic as Old Ivanhoe, who won 6 of their last 7 games, dominated and ran out easy 22 point winners.
The Tigers’ U19s won again (by 22 points) and finished the home and away season on top of the Premier Division ladder by a game and significant percentage. They play De La Salle in the second semi final at Central Park, Waverley next Sunday
Reaching the 2nd semi finals in the top divisions of both seniors and U19s, after both teams had been promoted, is an amazing result for the club and a credit to all who have contributed.
However, with the finals season about to begin and with the experience of the previous two years’ successful campaigns, the Tigers take on September action with the knowledge (both teams having won back-to-back premierships in 2006 and 2007) that finals is a different season to the home-and-away just completed and a special mettle is required to take the main prize on the last Sunday of the season.