Blues, T’s can’t be split, Xavs, Handley too much for Lions

University Blues and Old Trinity played out the first draw of the William Buck Premier season when the two sides finished 89 apiece at Uni Oval earlier today. The Blues entered the fourth quarter with a 27-point lead but the T’s ignited for with six goals to two in the final term. The home side trailed by six points until Marc James received a 25m penalty at the 28m mark and converted to tie things up. Jeremy Taylor and Cam Williams were named best afield for the Blues, while Sam Joyce (3) top-scored in front of goal for the T’s alongside a standout performance from Nick Meerman in his first senior game this year. The T’s sit in fourth spot and six premiership points behind the Tonners while the Blues are seventh and two games outside the four.

Four goals to two in the final term allowed St Kevin’s OB to maintain their unbeaten run, defeating St Bedes/Mentone Tigers by 14 points at Brindisi St Oval. The ladder leaders trailed for most of the day and by as much as 21 points at the main break. However, another BOG performance from Mitch Brown and three goals from Billy Kanakis helped SKOB to a hard-fought seventh straight as they piled on nine to three in the second half. Josh Cowan starred for the Tigers alongside the returning Jaryd Robertson. The heart-breaking loss leaves the Tigers in ninth spot on the ladder.

Another six goals from champion forward Matt Handley led Old Xaverians to a much-needed 27-point victory over Collegians at Toorak Park. Handley, who has now booted 18 goals in the last three games, was part of the fourth-quarter onslaught where the Xavs came from 12 points down with eight goals to two in the final term. Jason Holmes was best afield for the winners in his strongest all-round performance this season, while Ben Kennedy and Clay Johnston impressed. Viv Michie and Al Fahie were named BOG for the Lions, who suffered their first loss of the season after six straight wins. They remain in second spot on the ladder while the Xavs are eighth and a game above the Tigers in ninth.

Old Brighton bounced back after last week’s loss to SKOB, defeating Old Melburnians by 39 points at Brighton Beach Oval. 23 scoring shots to 14 helped the Tonners’ cause as they increased their lead at every break throughout the match. Anthony Zimmerman was named best afield for the Tonners while Harry Hill, Levi Otto and Tom Fisher booted two goals each. George Hurley-Wellington and Angus Clarke were named best for OMs who drop to sixth spot on the ladder, three below the Tonners.

De La Salle held on in a thrilling fourth quarter and came out two-point winners against Old Scotch at Waverly Oval. De La led by 29 points at the last break before going scoreless in the fourth while the Cardinals hit back with four unanswered goals majors. Sam Michael and Jake Williams were the two best players for De La in their second consecutive win, while Jack Hurley and James Sansom led the way for the winless Cardinals. The win elevates De La to fifth spot on the ladder but still a game and a half outside the four, while Scotch are 10^th as their run of close losses continues.