St Bedes/ Mentone Tigers returned to the winners’ list with a hard-fought victory over bottom-of-the-table Marcellin in old-fashioned winter conditions at Brindisi Street on Saturday with Paul Wintle helping himself to 6 majors at full forward.
Marcellin started well and refused to allow us the ascendency but with Michael Wintle getting possessions all over the ground and Gavin Brown relishing an on-balling role the Tigers banged on some late goals to lead by 22 points at quarter time.
In the second quarter, the Mentone team began to show some authority and with Luke Collins constantly at the fall of the ball and Simon Richards providing run through the lines the Tigers were beginning to break down the Bulleen team and led by 42 points at the long break.
Any thoughts of a drought in southern Australia were quickly scuppered after the long break as conditions at the Fortress resembled those at AAMI Stadium last week as the heavens opened and conditions not seen locally for many, many years unfolded with a full half of constant torrential rain and what had been a hard-fought skilful contest became like a game of schoolyard British Bulldog.
The initial winners were Marcellin as they took the initiative from the Tigers and banged on 4 unanswered goals in conditions in which Noah would have been preparing to sail, however, the Seniors were resolute and re-organised to kick some more late goals to restore order and turn with a 45 point lead.
The last quarter brought more of the same and with the lights on and full darkness descending the Tigers slid to a 54 point victory after an amazing afternoon that turned back the clock to how football used to be played in the Sixties
The Reserves demolished Marcellin by 169 points with Luke Kowalski kicking 10 goals while the U19s had a 56 point victory.
The VAFA competition has a mid-season break next week before the Tigers take on local rival Old Brighton at Brindisi Street on Saturday week.