St Bedes/ Mentone Tigers went down to ladder-leader and VAFA Premier Division premiership favourite De La Salle by 51 points in a tough, unforgiving encounter in blustery conditions at Brindisi Street on Saturday.
De La came out firing and with a couple of early goals into the strong northerly had the Tigers on the back foot but the Mentone team fought back with waves of attacks of their own but were ultimately unsuccessful and turned with a disappointing 15 point deficit after kicking with a 3-4 goal breeze.
The Malvern team then took to the attack with the breeze strengthening and played some quality team football, running hard for each other and hitting the packs with ferocity well-known in these parts but the Tigers responded with some tough footy themselves and with Mick Meehan and Jamie Maddocks in everything quelled the Bluemen’s attack until late in the quarter when the premiership favourites banged on 2 late goals to go to the long break with a matchwinning 52 point lead.
St Bedes came out firing after half time and quickly added 2 majors themselves and with Chris Richards back starring in the centre added some ferocity at the ball that was reminiscent of the recent past at Brindisi Street, however, De La were equal to the task and held out a resurgent Mentone outfit with a strong defensive zone and some hard running in support of each other to effectively restrict the Tigers’ surge and turn with a 25 point lead.
In the last the young Mentone team were brave and in fact won the second half on the scoreboard but the Bluemen were too good and sailed home on the now gale-force northerly to a well-deserved 51 point victory.
The Reserves and U19s were both well-beaten to round out a disappointing day.
Next week is a mid-season break, St Bedes then journey to Toorak Park to play Old Xaverians on Saturday week.