HELLO OLD SCOTCH GOODBYE OLD TRINITY

Andrew Leonard

On a wet and miserable day around Melbourne teams battled out on three fronts; for the right to play finals, the right to play in the same section next year and for some, it was just the right to say we did a good job today. 
Wow what a day on Buleen Road for four Premier clubs – the same margin at two grounds! The fate of two sides is still in the balance and we start the Premier review looking at the battle for fourth spot. Old Carey hosted Old Scotch at Dunshea Oval with the winner to take the box seat in the race for the four. Old Scotch celebrate tonight after a 4 point win kicking four goals to one in the final quarter in a low scoring match.  A University Blues win over Old Trinity would confirm the destination of those two clubs in 2013 and the Blues will be in Premier whilst a late charge from Old Trinity wasn’t enough to prevent them going down by 4 points and also going down to Premier B next season. De La Salle travelled to Brindisi St to take on St Bedes / Mentone Tigers for the La Salle Cup and the home side saluted by 26 points. St Bernards hosted ladder leaders Collegians at the Snakepit and challenged all day but in the end a margin of 33 points saw Collegians hold on to top spot.  Old Xaverians bounced back in torrid conditions at Toorak Park against the winless Caulfield Grammarians, although it wasn’t easy and the Grammarians were unlucky to lose by only 2 points. 
In Premier B the drama was no less as another battle for fourth spot raged between the incumbent Old Melburnians and the team hoping to displace them, Old Brighton. Played at the Junction Oval, Old Melburnians winning by 20 points to leave them in line for finals action. AJAX hosted Old Ivanhoe and had a massive win, with Jake Lew’s seven goals helping them to a 10 goal win. Old Haileybury played Oakleigh and won by 25 points to keep the mathematicians pondering on finals chances this week. In a precursor to a second semi-final in two weeks time, the top of the table clash between St Kevins and Uni Blacks was played in atrocious conditions at University Oval, with the home side securing the psychological advantage with a 20 point win. Werribee Districts hosted Beaumaris and the Sharks secured a much needed four points after a couple of tough weeks with a 39 point win. 

Premier C Mazenod ended Banyule’s faint finals hopes today with a big 62 point win. Parkdale Vultures hosted Hampton Rovers and had an 81 point win with Sam Larkins kicking seven in the win.  PEGS and Camberwell Grammar are still both chances to make the four but the win to PEGS by 22 points makes their task a lot easier than their beaten opponents. Marcellin travelled to Rupertswood and came away with a valuable four points that keeps them in second and in line for that valuable double chance in two weeks time thanks to a 21 point win. Fitzroy kept the pressure on Marcellin with a solid 20 point win over Monash Blues at home. 
In Division 1 the final four is set so it was about the clashes that might mean something  in two weeks or the clashes to avoid relegation. The biggest game of the day was the relegation battle between Williamstown CYMS and Glen Eira. The CY’s are all but safe after a 63 point thrashing of their relegation rivals. The top versus bottom clash was never going to be a game with much riding on it. NOBs/ St Pats did what they had to in beating St Johns by 76 points. MHSOB hosted Ormond and won by 23 points. Peninsula had a day out at home again, thrashing the visiting Old Mentonians by 55 points.  The preview of the first semi final between Old Geelong and Whitefriars gave reason for the Friars to be quietly confident heading into the re-match in two weeks, winning by 43. 
Division 2’s final four are set but we have one more week to determine the team that will join La Trobe University being relegated to Division 3 next season. Emmaus St Leo’s hosted St Mary’s Salesian and the visitors are safe after a seven point win. Prahran /Assumption had a routine 32 point win win at La Trobe University and now have one more week to prepare for a semi final. South Melbourne Districts are safe in the section for next season after a 37 point win over Monash Gryphons. Therry Penola hosted Eltham Collegians and the home side will need to improve on this result if they are to challenge next year. The Turtles home by 38 points. Old Paradians will be wishing they faced Bulleen Templestowe in week one of the finals after a 22 point win over the top side today.
Aquinas thrashed the team below them by one place by 9 goals to commence results from Division 3, Kew only managed one goal for the day.  UHS-VU travelled to St Francis Xavier and had a 27 point to secure a finals birth/ 
Elsternwick’s finals dream is over courtesy of the above result, this despite a 20 point win over Hawthorn. Old Westbourne beat Albert Park by 52 points and  secure Division 3 football next year at the expense of Power House. Power House got within 11 points of Ivanhoe at Ross Gregory, but it wasn’t enough to save their season. Richmond Central hosted top side Yarra Valley and the Snakes were no match for boys from wine country. The final margin was 50 points.  
Division 4 had all the headlines last week thanks to Chadstone’s first win in four years. It was not to be repeated this week with the Synners travelling to top placed South Mornington and the Tigers brought them crashing back to earth with a 90 point win. North Brunswick hosted Point Cook and were taught a football lesson going down by 96 points. Box Hill North and Eley Park Sharks played a ripping derby with the Sharks winning by just 4 points. Mt Lilydale were visited by Manningham Cobras and had another bad loss losing 59 to 9. Swinburne University suffered in the upset of the day losing to West Brunswick by the smallest margin in football.