The result was never in doubt, with the Red 'n' Blacks bursting from the gates and piling it on early.

Coach Healy commented:

After a forfeit from OMs, a bye and a loss in a hurricane at St Bernard’s, it was good to get season 2017 kick-started again after an exasperating few weeks for everyone involved in the OX Reds !

To be fair to the lads, morale has remained high through this bumpy period and everyone was ‘up for the battle’ when we hit Harry Trott Oval last Saturday.

Collegians were coming off a surprise win over Uni Blues (who’d beaten us earlier in the year) so no-one was underestimating them.

Toohey was a late withdrawal hampering our ruck stocks and Michael Stanley came in.

It was obvious after five minutes that we were really ‘on’ and nine goals in the opening quarter was just reward for our hardness, run from behind and fast and accurate ball movement.

Even into the slight breeze in the second quarter we were able to add another seven goals to have the game well and truly iced by the long break.

Captain Fletch led a hungry on-ball brigade of De Lutis, Bishop, Vogue and Kelly with Cain and Will Wilson dominant on the wings.

The forward line remained open and was generally cohesive all day with Watkin, Samartzis, Amato and Stanley all dangerous.

Vanderkley led the big men with support from Fantasia where needed whilst Ingham, Cookesley, Silk, Lowe and Boots were all solid up back.

To score 30 goals is an outstanding effort – now for a rampaging UniI Blacks at Straddie – looks a super game on paper and hopefully the Reds can reign supreme and sew up a top two spot.

The only question now is whether Charlie Wilson got enough touches to keep his shorts on at training – TBA !!!!!

Well done to all and thanks to Ben Steedman for being the Runner covering for the Weapon who’s sunning it in Bali !!!

Collegians                    0.0-0    0.1-1            0.1-1                   0.1-1

Old Xaverians Red      9.7-61    16.10-106    22.15-147   30.22-202

Goal Kickers: J. Samartzis 6, H. Kelly 4, A. Amato 4, E. Watkin 4, M. Stanley 3, C. Bishop 2, L. O''Sullivan 2, S. Cleeve, F. Nugent, W. Wilson, T. Ingham, M. Coffey
Best Players: W. Wilson, M. Cain, M. Stanley, S. Vanderkley, T. Ingham, H. Cookesley

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