By Cameron Noakes

THE clichés were perfect - it was an armwrestle, it was bone-crunching and eventually ended in a nail-biting draw - when De La Salle went to Old Brighton yesterday in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

A-section newcomer Old Brighton has stunned the top-flight league this year with its dazzling form that has taken it to the top of the ladder with an unbeaten record.

But that record – and a reputation for being a tough beat at home – did not faze the De La Salle boys, who had sparred many a time with the Tonners in B-section with favourable results.

The Dees started impressively but Old Brighton fought back and by the third term had opened up what appeared to be a match-winning 19-point lead.

However, two goals to Michael Duggan and another from De La Salle’s star veteran Ben Mannix levelled the scores and launched the game into a fierce scrap.

With just a few minutes remaining, De La’s Jarrod Moloney foiled an Old Brighton charge into its forwardline when he ran at an oncoming pack and took a Wayne Carey-esque grab, ensuring the scores remained locked until the bell, 8.10 (58) to 7.16 (58).

University Blues staged an incredible fightback, coming from 27 points down at quarter-time to roll Old Scotch, 16.11 (107) to 12.9 (81).

And any hope reigning premier Old Haileybury had of scoring its first win for the year was cruelly dashed by Collegians, 10.11 (71) to 10.6 (66).

Old Xaverians continued their superb form, belting Old Ivanhoe by 48 points at Elsternwick Park and St.Bernard’s also scored a comfortable 47-point win against Old Trinity. 
 

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Longwarry star forward Ryan Donaldson became the first senior footballer in the state to chalk up 50 goals this season when he bagged nine in his teams clash with Cora Lynn in the Ellinbank and District Football League.

Donaldson has been in sparkling form and his ninth yesterday took his season tally to 54 from seven games.

It also helped Longwarry claim the points in a thrilling, upset-win against Cora Lynn, 16.10 (106) to 15.11 (101).

Donaldson was helped out by Luke Serong, whose fifth goal at the death gave the home-team a seven-point buffer.

Cora Lynn surged again but its forays into the forwardline resulted in minor scores, costing the team its second loss for the year and third spot.

Cora Lynn forward Darren Sheen booted five goals and his season tally of 48 is the second highest in the state.

Last year’s runner-up Bunyip slipped from second to fifth after it was overpowered by Poowong, 10.13 (73) to 16.14 (110).

And Catani, the 2004/05 premier, has moved into second spot after it defeated Lang Lang, 21.14 (140) to 9.7 (61).

Incredibly, Catani forward Owen Fitzpatrick (two goals yesterday) is also on track for a ton, with a season tally of 45.

Article firs appeared: The Age Sunday May 27 2007