Blues, Collegians & Blacks all end streaks

Nick Armistead

Old Xaverians fought off a spirited display from De La Salle to record a five-point win at Dairy Bell. Ex-St Kilda and Collingwood premiership star Luke Ball debuted for the Xavs, helping his side recover a 17-point quart-time deficit with a five goal to two second quarter. Despite a final term comeback from the cellar-dwellers, a four-goal haul from Jeremy Hannan and a standout performance from Marcus Allan was enough for the Xavs to hold on and climb into the top four.

Old Carey posted a memorable win as they ran out 39-point winners against Collegians, it was the Panthers first eve win against the Lions. Leading from start to finish, the Panthers did not give their opponents a sniff after half-time, improving on their 10-point lead with eight second-half goals to four. The victors spread their goals around, with Morgan Evans, James King, Jarrod Reid and Ben Smithwick all claiming bags of three. Nick Corp did his utmost to continue the Lions’ current five-game winning streak with five goals of his own. The win pushes the Panthers to third on the ladder, while the Lions fall outside the top four into fifth position.

Five goals and a best-on-ground performance from Ross Young helped the University Blues snap a five-game losing streak with a 32-point victory over Old Scotch at Camberwell Sports Ground. A four goal to one opening term was the catalyst for the Blues who were rarely headed by the Cardinals at any stage throughout the match. Jack Bull and Nicholas Cox were the best for the losing side, but their efforts were in vein as the Blues ran away with their fourth win of the season, breaking their five game losing streak. Old Scotch’s run of outs now extends to six.

Old Trinity continued their winning momentum in the first round back from the Queen’s birthday weekend, disposing of Beaumaris by 53 points at Daley Oval. Trailing by six points at quarter-time, the ladder-leading T’s turned it on with a five-goal second quarter and headed into the main break with a comfortable 16-point lead. The second-half was all one-way traffic as the Sharks could only muster three more goals to the T’s nine. Luther Juric was the best for the winning side, while Sebastian Nicolosi played his part with a bag of five. The win keeps Trinity one game clear at the top of the table, while the Sharks linger in ninth position with only two wins for the season.

St Bernards continued their push towards the 2015 finals with a 79-point come-from-behind victory over University Blacks at Melbourne University on Saturday afternoon. Bernards overturned a 29-point quarter-time deficit, piling on 21 goals to 4 in the last three quarters. Nicholas Cooke did the damage in front of goal with four majors, while Nathan Kazuro and Adam Bentick did as they pleased in best-on-ground performances. The disappointing loss sees the Blacks fall from fifth on the ladder to seventh with wins to the Xavs and Blues this weekend doing them no favours in their bid for a 2015 finals campaign.