St Bedes/Mentone Tigers exited the VAFA ‘A’ Section finals’ race when they went down to University Blues in extra time after a dramatic day at VAFA headquarters on Sunday.
The Tigers were again unusually slow to start as Blues had 2 goals on the board and missed another sitter before the Mentone team had settled but from there the Tigers, with James Tyquin and Jamie Maddocks in everything, got their game going and but for some wayward kicking could have been in front at the first change.
After the break, St Bedes continued to tackle and run hard and looked to be getting their game together but their forward line was ineffective against a well-organised University team who defended with aplomb and then rebounded to goal and take a deserved 8 point lead into half time.
The third quarter was a cracker as the well-disciplined Blues played structured and effective football while St Bedes attempted to break them open with their customary fierce attack on the ball, hard running through the lines and some strong marking up forward by Michael Cursio and Jonathon Kane.
As the quarter progressed, the Tigers took the ascendency and ultimately took the lead with some frenetic football only for Uni to regain it within the shadows of the 3/4 time siren.
With only a 4 point deficit, a strengthening breeze at their back and their reputation of overrunning teams in the final stanza, the Mentone team started the last quarter of their season as warm favourites to prevail but this wasn’t to be as again Blues maintained their game-plan and goaled twice before St Bedes could get on the board themselves.
Both teams refused to yield but with a 13 point lead and 3 minutes to play Uni seemed to have the Tigers’ number only for the 2008 premier to show their amazing character when all seemed lost and bang on a couple through Brett Collins and Ben Phibbs to level the scores against the run of play.
The last 60 seconds were frenzied but neither team could wrench the ball to a scoring position and so 5 minutes extra time each way was a just result for a game played by two teams playing totally different brands of football but each refusing to concede defeat.
Unfortunately, extra time was a letdown as the Tigers held Uni for 4 and a half minutes only to let 2 goals in in the next 3 minutes and were unable to trouble the scorer when they had the advantage of the slight breeze thus leaving Blues most deserving victors and worthy preliminary final combatants.
And so ended an outstanding attempt to defend 2008’s hard-won title, in fact in 2009 with 14 wins and 4 losses St Bedes this year won 2 more home-and-away games than the 2008 version but alas that team won the 2 finals to bring upon themselves the ultimate glory and the enviable history that goes with those historic wins.
Next Sunday to the victor the spoils as Uni Blues take on De La Salle in the preliminary final for the right to challenge the all-conquering Old Xavs while the Tigers are left to ruminate and reset for another assault in 2010.