Tigers Win And Earn Promotion

The Sunday Age

Sunday September 9, 2007

Cameron Noakes

MINOR premier St Bede's-Mentone will be playing A-section football next year in the Victorian Amateur Football Association after belting Old Essendon at Elsternwick Park yesterday and qualifying for the B-section grand final.

St Bede's-Mentone set a blistering opening pace and tore the game apart in the second half to win the second semi-final by 83 points, 29.18 (192) to 17.7 (109).

The Tigers were promoted from C-section last year and will enter A-section for the first time after a stunning season in which they have not lost since round seven.

Old Essendon now meets the winner of today's elimination final between University Blacks and St Kevin's.

In A-section, third-placed Old Ivanhoe is out of the finals race after losing its first semi-final against the in-form University Blues by 37 points, 13.14 (92) to 8.7 (55).

The Blues have hit their straps at the right time of the year and after sneaking into the finals, they could be the smoky of the spring.

It was a tough day in the office for the Hoers, managing only two goals in the first half and, when they finally got going in the final term, the Blues had all the answers.

Today, minor premiers Old Xaverians play Old Brighton in the second semi at Elsternwick Park, with the loser to meet the Blues.

In the Warrnambool and District Football League, South Rovers have won their first flag since 1993 after defeating the Timboon Demons by six points, 19.10 (124) to 17.16 (118).

The Rovers trailed at half-time, but restricted the Demons to one point in the third to grab a small lead that they were able to cling to, despite the Demons' persistence. Rovers' centre-half-forward Ed Richardson was best on ground.

In the Bellarine Football League, Newcomb Power has collected its second flag in three years after an outstanding performance against Ocean Grove yesterday at Torquay.

The Power piled on eight goals in the opening term and finished off the Grubbers in the third after booting 9.1, going on to win by 54 points, 25.15 (165) to 17.9 (111).

In the Upper Murray Football League, Federal has claimed unlikely back-to-back premierships after coming from behind to defeat Bullioh in yesterday's grand final at Bullioh.

Federal started as a rank outsider after it was defeated by Bullioh in the second semi. The defending premier trailed all afternoon, only to hit the lead in the final term and claim a thrilling eight-point win, 13.8 (86) to 12.6 (78).

© 2007 The Sunday Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home