St Bedes/Mentone Tigers led all day and, after overcoming charges every quarter by Old Xaverians, steadied to run out convincing winners against last year’s premiers at their fortress at Brindisi Street where very, very few teams (only 4 in the last 6 years) come away with the points. The Tigers dominated the opening and with 3 quick goals got a good jump on the VAFA Premier Division yardstick only to find Xavs fight back and actually take the ascendency in the second half of the quarter to only trail by 5 points at quarter time. After the break, the Red and Blacks piled on the pressure but were unable to convert it on the scoreboard and, as Xavs had done in the first, the seniors took control in the second half of the quarter and with Simon Richards and Sam Anstey unstoppable around the contest they peppered the goals to take a handy 15 point lead into the long break. Again in the second half, Xavs rebounded and with the first two of the quarter had the chance to take the lead for the first time but missed from a set shot 30 metres out directly in front – this was the signal for the Tigers to switch on and with Luke Collins and Jack Hellier at the bottom of every pack and bursting from every contest the Mentone team took control to again lead by 14 points at the final change in a very low-scoring affair. Not to be denied, Xavs showed their class and again challenged the Tiges with 2 goals in the first 3 minutes to draw within 2 points only to find that this tiger outfit is truly made of the sternest stuff and with young, first year running defender Dan Garside, swingman Dean Porter in career-best form and triple premiership star Anthony Scafidi impassable in defence the Tigers bounced out to a 17 point lead midway through the quarter and continued to attack every contest in the manner they have all season to condemn the champs to yet another fruitless journey to the seaside and for the locals to maintain their unbeaten status for 2011. The Reserves went down by 30 points to a very strong Xavs team while the U19s had a resounding 62 point win to stay in finals contention. Next Saturday the Tigers journey to Bulleen to take on Old Trinity who are the only other team to have defeated Xavs this year.