St Bedes/ Mentone Tigers showed their character when they had a hard-fought, come-from-behind 27 point, away win on Saturday against the newly-promoted and quickly-improving Monash Blues at Monash. The Tigers performed well in the first with hard tackling and chasing and held the Blues to a 2 goal lead albeit having missed several opportunities to goal, kicking to the non-preferred end at the windswept Uni ovals. However, immediately after the quarter time break all the hard work into the wind was undone as the Students ran the ball into the wind and goaled at ease. In no time the deficit had blown out to 26 points and Monash were looking the far more accomplished team. Two late goals narrowed the margin to 14 points at the long break and the Mentone team had plenty to think about. After the half, St Bede’s came out with more run, more desperate tackling and more skill in moving the ball through the centre with excellent ball use and great overlap running. Up forward, Michael Barnes was creating havoc (as he has been all year) with his non-stop running and Robbie Iudica showed his class and his mental toughness to wrest the initiative away from the boys from The Farm. At the orange break scores were level, the visitors had the advantage of the wind at their back in the last and more importantly they looked to have outrun Monash all quarter with their greater fitness.
As the final quarter unfolded, the game appeared to be a mirror-image of the Old Scotch ANZAC Day game where the opposition ran hard and often to take an early lead mid way through the second quarter, the Tigers tackled with ferocity then the their fitness helped re-assert control in the critical third quarter and the Mentone teams’ willingness (and ability) to keep running in the last enabled them to run away on the scoreboard. So it was, with Chris Mangoni in scintillating touch all over the ground and Alex Smout presenting at every opportunity the Tigers banged on 3 goals 5 to two points and in fact scored 8 goals 10 to 4 points from the 20 minute mark of the second quarter. A very good win in difficult conditions away from home but hopefully a lesson has been learnt in not letting teams get control of games early notwithstanding the toughness shown in fighting back from difficult situations is character-building and team-building and the knowledge that good teams win big games. The Development Team outplayed Monash Blues and recorded a comfortable 58 point victory with Ben Nicoll, Lachie Palfrey and Lew Stutterd amongst the best in a very even team performance with Jimmy Dalzotto banging through 4 majors. the Thirds had a hard day at the office against a very strong Therry Old Colls. The Under 19s continued their winning way to remain undefeated on top of the ladder after downing Old Trinity by 10 goals at Brindisi Street with Zac Calvez, Sam Barca and Ryan Mravljak the best. They take on second team and last year’s dominant side Parkdale on Saturday in the first of a triple header at the Fortress. The Under 19 Development Team extended their winning streak with a 22 point victory against long time ACC rival Old Paradians. Dane Heverin bagged another 4 majors with Tom Weston-Arnold, Joel Sanders, Oscar Adorno and Sam Burke the best. Next Saturday the Seniors, Development Team and Under 19s take on Parkdale at Brindisi Street in a triple header, local derby with plenty to play for……the Thirds journey to Williamstown while the Under 19s Development Team travel to Latrobe Uni.