St Bernard’s conjures 108-point turnaround to hand University Blacks a heavy VAFA defeat

AT QUARTER-TIME in its clash with University Blacks on Saturday, St Bernard’s looked more likely to be on the end of an annihilation than to hand one out themselves.

VAFA footy: University Blacks V St Bernard's.

AT QUARTER-TIME in its clash with University Blacks on Saturday, St Bernard’s looked more likely to be on the end of an annihilation than to hand one out themselves.

The Snowdogs gave up five goals in the opening quarter at Melbourne University Oval, trailing the reigning premier by 29 points in the Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier Division match.

St Bernard’s coach Anthony Rock demanded more from his side’s midfielders at the first break and could not have been happier with the response he got.

“At quarter-time we had a pretty frank discussion, it was very un-Bernard’s like the way we played,” Rock said.

After struggling to get their hands on the ball first for 30 minutes, Nathan Kazuro, Adam Bentick, Chris Peart and Alexander Mcleod managed to arrest the hosts’ momentum in the centre of the park.

The result was a six-goal second-quarter from the Snowdogs, which brought the scores level at half-time.

With their tails up, St Bernard’s kicked away in the third quarter, blitzing Uni Blacks across the park to lead by 46 points at the last break.

By the final siren, the visitors had slotted 21 of the 25 goals kicked after quarter-time, recording a thumping 21.16 (142) to 9.9 (63) win.

“I really highlighted our midfield group at quarter-time, being second to the ball and really not utilising our ruck advantage,” Rock said.

“I was disappointed with that group and certainly they were the impetus, the keys to get us back into the game.

“From quarter-time on our midfield was outstanding.”

The result helped St Bernard’s maintain pace with Old Trinity at the top of the ladder after nine rounds.

The ladder leaders, who will meet this weekend, have been the clear standouts of the competition in 2015.

Six points separates the second-placed Snowdogs and third-placed Old Carey, emphasising the dominance of the division’s pacesetters.

“We’ve always had close battles with Trinity. Round 1 last year they beat us, Round 1 this year they beat us by (five) points,” Rock said.

“We still had opportunities, we missed a lot of shots on goal last time.”