Another successful weekend for SKOB with TH King and Righetti Oval once again holding firm as home team fortresses - SKOB going 5 for 5 at the two venues on Saturday. The Seniors fought off a determined Uni Blacks and drew away to a comfortable win in the end, although the scoreboard didn’t reflect the evenness of the match. The Reserves consolidated 2nd spot on the table with a big win after a slow start. The Academy were pushed all the way by Old Scotch before prevailing in the end by 11 points. At Old Regret, the Saints won both games against Old Scotch. Our Gold team celebrating Chaz Stoltz’s 100th with a hard fought win, and the Blues showing that their recent vein of form is for real as they torched Scotch from the outset. The 19s were on the road, with the “St Mary’s for the day” Premier team getting the points at Beauy, whilst our Div 2’s and Div 4’s both gave their all against the top team in each grade, going down respectively but showing great fight. With byes for the Stingers and the Green Machine the club registered a very satisfying 6 wins from 8.
Black breaking effort gets the reward
Coming into the game after a week’s rest, SKOB were looking to give their supporters some respite from the tight finishes that have become synonymous with the results of late. Patrick Kerr booted an early one to set the scene but that was all the joy for SKOB in a dour first term where behinds were the feature and the Uni Blacks defence held sway. As the shade started to cover the King dome the fans rugged up and settled in for what might be another nail biter.
An early strike to the Blacks signalled that it might not be SKOB’s day as the visitors were showing great resilience and were proving tough to break down - as they have all season. The work rate lifted in the back end of the second term and SKOB were able to steady and start hitting the scoreboard themselves, booting four in a row to hit the sheds with a two goal cushion.
Slamming home the first two goals after the break gave SKOB a cushion they were able to maintain through the remainder of the match and a four goal finish in the final term extended their advantage out to a dominant win. It was hard fought throughout and required a team performance to get the job done against a disciplined opponent, but SKOB had the advantage of Kerr and Tucker up forward who combined for 6 goals, which matched the Blacks entire team output, and with other targets to aim at, the home team were able to forge other avenues to score.
A satisfying win for the coaching staff who will be happy to “turn” 7-2 at the halfway mark of the season with a massive fortnight to come (games against Xavs and Collegians) before a fortnight league hiatus. Best for SKOB were Liam Walters, Patrick Kerr (3 goals), Jack Andriske, Sam Cameron, Robert Larcher and William Pfeiffer..
No Bye Blues for the Ressies
Yanni was once at the King this week to file his Ressie Report:
"Coming off the back of a bye, the SKOB Reserves returned home as fans and reporters were eager to watch the boys continue their red-hot form.
The game started with the SKOB boys getting out in front. Utilizing their ball movement, they were quick to produce ample forward-half entries and scoring shots. Despite their early dominance, they only managed to pull ahead by a small margin.
The second stanza began with the game being even-keeled, both teams going goal for goal. Despite the back and forth, the boys maintained their lead heading into halftime thanks to their groundwork in the first quarter.
The third term began with SKOB coming out a little behind the eight-ball. Jack Byrne found himself making some well-placed intercept marks, solidifying himself as one of the pillars in the back six. Despite Uni Blacks having all the ascendancy, they only managed to score a point, allowing the SKOB boys to take full advantage on the counter, scoring two late red-time goals.
The final quarter arrived with the Resies showing their class, asserting themselves in every aspect of the game. Jack Darmody's presence was immense throughout, helping the boys lock the ball in the forward half. This led to four unanswered goals, putting some breathing room between them and the opposition, ultimately leading to the win.
Overall, the Resies played an outstanding game and should be proud of their effort, which can be difficult coming off a bye. The boys will now prepare themselves for their highly anticipated clash with Old Xavs next Saturday.."
Academy storm home late to curtail Cards
The early game at the King pitted two teams in the top four battling to keep their spots and their season momentum going, and with plenty on the line, the game delivered in spades as the match went all the way to the wire. Here's our man's report:
"Having lost their last 3 games to Scotchies – 1 due to lighting failure, another a heart-breaking Hail Mary on the siren that saw the end of the season last year and then by a solitary goal in round 3 - it was not quite the cliché that the feeling in the Academy rooms was ‘we owe these blokes’….
With greasy conditions that suited the Cardinals’ ‘stand, deliver and kidney punch’ style of play, the young SKOBs quickly found themselves 2 goals down in the first quarter. Where previously a lack of experience might have let the quarter slide the young SKOBs, led by captain Harry Mulchahy, set about clawing their way back into the contest. Showing determination they blocked Scotch’s momentum playing disciplined ‘lock down’ football, eventually going to half time with less than a goal in the contest.
Giving away 35kg and 12 years experience, Dan McCarthy was a power in the ruck refusing to be drawn into his opponent’s desire to wrestle under the ball, instead jumping over him to exploit the inability to get 130kg more than an inch into the air. With Arty Nguyen and Ollie Doyle (BOB – Brother of Bree or BOS Brother of Sam – take your pick) working their way into the game with attack on the ball and pace by foot as the dew had finally been kicked off the SKOBs slowly started to win the arm wrestle. Josh Bedier justified his late call up with one of his best games for the SKOBs by constantly repelling Scotch attacks from the HB flank.
Matt Canning was damaging up front all day and was the difference when isolated in the goal square by Coach Ollie in the last quarter and stood up when it mattered, finishing the day with 4 majors. When Nguyen slid through a clutch goal mid way through the last SKOBs could see the light and had a goal advantage. 5 minutes later Skipper Mulchahy marked strongly and cooly iced the game with a set shot from 35m for a crucial Captain’s goal.
Academy sit 7-3, second on the ladder with a trip to the Snake Pit to look forward to this week."
St Kevins | 12 2.0 | 33 5.3 | 43 6.7 | 69 10.9 |
Old Scotch | 18 3.0 | 31 5.1 | 44 7.2 | 58 9.4 |
The Stingers had a bye this weekend
Gold dust off the Stars
It was billed as the match of the season so far, with the coming together of two unbeaten titans at Old Rigret - and it did not disappoint. The Saints Gold team had to come from behind at 3/4 time and lift with an almighty effort to salute in Charlotte Stolz's 100th game and celebrate in style as they overcame a gallant old Scotch in an all time classic at Old Rigret on Saturday. There was more than a healthy crowd on hand at Kooyong to witness the occasion, but the tightness of the battle, the stakes for the winner and the relentless pressure of both teams was never going to lend itself to a shootout - and the first quarter was anything but. SKOB had the better of it but couldn't land a killer blow so only had a lead of 4 behinds to show for their early dominance. Goals were traded in the second quarter before the Scotch Stars threw a blanket over SKOB in the third, holding their hosts goalless and daring to take the lead - which they duly did as the teams turned for home. So with everything on the line in the last the two top teams went toe to toe. SKOB got their noses back in front after a brilliant centering pass from Joyce found Duffy who tucked away a nice snap at the freeway end (these Saints know how to play Righetti).
The Stars came again at SKOB and peppered the sticks without success, then the Saints strung together arguably the play of the day, rebounding from defence with some deft passing that saw Kenealy find Dunnell who ran in to kick the sealer for SKOB.
A goal after the siren padded the result out a bit, but it was the Saints who deserved the spoils and prevailed on the day, although one expects that we haven't seen the last of these two teams this season.
It was a great occasion for Charlotte Stoltz who became just the second Saint to chalk up 100 games for SKOB. A wonderful achievement.
Best for the Saints were Emily Condon, Jessica Joyce, Bree Doyle, Scarlett Dunell, Sarah Betts and Zara Guss.
Blues cruise
The indefatigable run of the Saints Blues, shows no sign of stopping, and the Strauss freight train showed why they are the form team of the comp as they ploughed through Scotch - who came into the round with a 7-1 record - to the tune of 47 points.
As mentioned before in these despatches, the Blues started the season 0-3 and were looking down the barrel, but they've since gone on a six game winning streak that is showing little sign of abating.
Coach Strauss has found the secret sauce and the Blues are shooting the lights out at the moment. The game was well in their keeping by the time the players hit the huddle for the first break and they kept right at it for four full quarters, finishing 6.12 to 0.1 at the close.
Their slow start to the season means that at the half way mark they still sit fourth, but are coming with a huge run and looking to pick up more scalps in the second half of the season if they can keep up their form. A massive test awaits next week when they face table topping Kew at Kew.
London Ashcroft, Katelyn Brandenburg, Lucia Bancovich, Rachael Wilson, Sienna Vallejo and Lucy Kehoe were amongst the best.
The Green Machine had a bye this weekend
"St Mary's for a day" catch the Sharks
The scoreboard attendant at Banksia Reserve didn't quite have St Kevin's name correct on the day, but it mattered not as on the scoreboard that mattered, SKOB had the better of Beaumaris at Shark Park.
The Premier team started well in the early going and got out to a 2 goal cushion they were able to maintain for most of the contest. SKOB were then able to step things up after half time and in the last pull away - booting 5 goals to 1 in the final term to claim the chocolates by 44 points and shore up their spot in the four.
Best players for SKOB were Conor Lynch, Samuel Jones, Liam Edwards, Xavier Duke, Ben Cantwell and Roshan Fernandes
The Div 2's and Div 4's both had to play the top team in their division - a tough task on the best of days - but both teams gave it a real crack and did themselves and their supporters proud with their efforts. For the Div 2's there was never more than a couple of kicks in it against Old Camberwell who have only dropped one game all year. Outscoring the ladder leaders in the last showed that SKOB were trying all the way to the end. Best were Daniel Deguara, Lachie Teal, Alexander Smith, Sam Crack, Finn Slattery and Ronan Smythe, whilst for the Div 4's they too worked hard to the finish line against De La and were best served by Jack Elsworth, Henry Jones, Will Hearn, Valentino Scopelliti, Jack Hillyer and Charles Wilhelm
