VICTORY AT THE VARSITY: RED 'N' BLACKS BEST BLUES

Too often they have come unstuck under the spires. Not today. Old Xaverians won its first on the Main against Uni Blues since 2013, withstanding and repelling a late charge at improbable win from the home team.

From the outset, the visitors played the ground as if they owned it, pressuring, tackling and running their way to an impressive first quarter advantage. Matthew Margin snapped the opener in the first minute, a towering beauty from deep in the pavilion pocket that brought the team and the crowd to life. More forays forward followed without result and Blues levelled at eight minutes. But that was it for the home team. Lucas Soccio, Matt Handley, Fraser Pearce and Alex Browne all kicked truly.  When Blues won the ball, they were allowed no space and little time before they were subjected to a swarm of bodies wearing red jumpers. Under constant threat, the Varsity laid 21 tackles. Xavs had more time with the ball, but laid a mammoth 35.

The second term saw Blues bounce back. For the first half of the stanza, it was they who wrested back the momentum, booting two goals and looking more like the team that beat St Kevin's in recent weeks. But Xavs hit back and the big mo was theirs again, though too many relatively easy chances wet begging, as they had done in the first term. Luke Bisset closed the quarter with a set shot from close range and 23 points separated the teams as they trudged to the sheds.

Eight minutes into the third term, Robbie Ralph marked in the spot from where Matt Margin had opened the day's scoring. The son of the slaughter-man had proved damaging in the first half, building on his strong showing last week. Pushed up against the fence by the umpire and taunted by the man on the mark, Kenny booted it high and hard and it sailed over the goal umpire's hat. Xavs attacked for much of the quarter, but only Fraser Pearce could split the sticks among a splurge of sprayed chances. Blues cobbled together two majors from fewer opportunities, but Xavs went to to the lemons with a 25 point advantage.

Uni Blues have enjoyed some strong final terms this campaign, but this one started badly when Matt Handley slotted his second from a sharp angle. Again, the pendulum swung with the home team threatening and adding another pair. Just 13 minutes gone and the margin was into 14 points. Four minutes later, Soccio steamrolled his way through a pack, picked off the tap from the stoppage and banged it through. Blues would not lie down, however, but the Xavs' back six held firm. In time-on, the home team scored twice. Nerves were back on edge. Eight points the margin, with minutes left to play, and both teams down on rotations. Xavs attacked for the final time. Tomi Johnston, best man on the ground, lined them up and kicked it through as the siren spluttered.

Cauley Beetham, the best run-with player in the comp, claimed another scalp, while big Homer Holmes gave the on-ball brigade plenty of fodder. Chris Margin and Fraser Pearce provided plenty of silk, while Dan Noonan and Louis Tiernan were stars in defence. There was some nice aerial work from Tim Golds and Kenny Ralph, and some great crumbing from Soccio and the tireless Clay Johnston.

For the first time this year, the Xavs collected points in consecutive weeks. They go to the final break next week in fifth position, with the possibility of finishing as high as fourth and as low as tenth. University Blues are in exactly the same boat. Nothing in this crazy season is anywhere near yet settled. But the A380s are in the sky and the Red 'n' Black passengers are inward bound. For everyone else, rest, and then go again.

University Blues    1.0-6    3.2-20    5.5-35     9.11-65
Old Xaverians     5.3-33    6.7-43    8.12-60    11.13-79

Goal Kickers: M. Handley 2, F. Pearce 2, L. Soccio 2, R. Ralph, T. Johnston, L. Bisset, A. Browne, M. Margin
Best Players: T. Johnston, C. Margin, J. Holmes, C. Beetham, F. Pearce, L. Tiernan

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