St Bedes / Mentone Tigers downed the previously well-performed University Blues by 38 points in difficult conditions at VAFA Headquarters on Saturday. With Jack Hellier and Paul Wintle leading the defence, the Tigers, kicking with a gusty 3 goal breeze, slowly moved out to a 21 point lead at quarter time.
In the second quarter Blues defensive mindset worked against them as they were outscored with the wind. The Tigers started the second half with a brace of quick goals, and with Michael Wintle starring and building on his already outstanding season, looked set to put the game beyond the reach of the University outfit, but Blues reset their defence and held the Mentone team to a 30 point and seemingly reachable margin at the final break.
However, as ever, the seniors saved their best ’til last and just tackled University every time they looked like taking the ball forward and through the agency of the hard-running pair, Ben Phibbs and Paul Groves, rebounded repeatedly to overrun the Blues into the wind. The Tigers’ U18s had a big win to lift themselves into the top 4 while the Reserves, Club XVIII and U19s all had bad defeats.
Next week the ladder-leading Tigers play premiership-contender Old Brighton at Brighton Beach in what shapes as their toughest test thus far this season.