First, the good news. Old Xaverians had eleven goal scorers at Camberwell this afternoon and booted thirteen, not one of them coming from Matthew Handley.  The bad news was that just as many players in Red and Black sprayed gettable shots, registering minor scores or else missing the 21-metre-wide scoring area altogether. The ugly part was the result: Xavs failed to win their third, while Old Scotch took their first points of the year.

Early in the first term, the visitors looked to be finding the form that gave them such a solid win last week. But they had six shots and missed them all. The Cards suddenly strung together a passage and levelled the scores. Xavs replied, but the Red Men struck again. and again. Suddenly, the home team led by 27 and looked to pulling further ahead until Tom anderson slotted one from long range. Nineteen points separated them at the first change.

The second term belong to Xavs, who hit back hard. With the defence holding tight, the Red and Blacks hauled their way back into it and took a narrow lead to the long break. It didn't last long. Xavs added two in the third stanza, but the Caledonians slotted four.

Given their ten-point advantage at the lemons, the home team would have been confident. Only once all year had they led at the last change, and that was by a point. The last quarter has been their best all year, winning five of their seven to date, though none of them had propelled them to victory.

Xavs ramped up the pressure in the final term, but every time they appeared likely to put their noses in front, the home team would respond. The home team booted five without a miss, while the visitors also kicked five, but missed some opportunities that last week they took. When push came to shove in the time-on period, the Claret and Stout just couldn't get it done.

Full marks to the Cards, who made more of their chances, especially in the last, when they kicked some sensational goals under pressure.

Old Scotch         6.3-39    6.8-44    10.12-72    15.12-102
Old Xaverians    2.8-20    6.12-48    8.14-62    13.18-96

Goal Kickers: B. Kennedy 2, D. Symeopoulos 2, A. Trigar, L. Denton, B. Goss, T. Golds, C. Johnston, H. Troiani, M. Merlo, J. Holmes, T. Anderson
Best Players: B. Olsson, H. Troiani, T. Johnston, C. Johnston, M. Batten, L. Barry

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